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CIHM/ICMH 

Microfiche 

Series. 


CIHIVI/ICMH 
Collection  de 
microfiches. 


Canadian  Institute  for  Historical  Microreproductions  /  Institut  Canadian  de  microreproductions  historiques 


Technical  and  Bibliographic  fJotat/Notas  tachniquea  at  bibliographiquat 


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original  copy  availabia  ffcr  fiimiing.  Faaturaa  of  thia 
copy  which  may  ba  bibliographically  unlqua, 
which  may  altar  any  of  tha  imagaa  In  tha 
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tha  uaual  mathod  of  filming,  ara  chackad  balow. 


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Couvartura  da  couiaur 


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Covars  rastorad  and/or  laminotad/ 
Couvartura  rattaurAa  at/ou  palliculia 


I      I   Covar  titia  missing/ 


La  titra  da  couvartura  manqua 


|~~|   Colourad  maps/ 


Cartas  gAographiquas  an  couiaur 

Colourad  ink  (i.a.  othar  than  blua  or  black)/ 
Encra  da  couiaur  (i.a.  autra  qua  blaua  ou  noira) 


I      I   Colourad  piatas  and/or  illustrations/ 


Planchas  at/ou  illustrations  an  couiaur 

Bound  with  othar  matarial/ 
RaliA  avac  d'autras  documents 

Tight  binding  may  causa  shadows  or  distortion 
along  interior  margin/ 

La  reiiura  sarrte  paut  causar  da  i'ombra  ou  da  la 
distortion  la  long  da  la  marga  int6riaura 

Blank  iaavas  addad  during  restoration  may 
appear  within  tha  text.  Whenever  possible,  these 
heve  been  omitted  from  filming/ 
ii  se  peut  que  certaines  pages  blenches  ajoutias 
lors  d'une  restauration  apparaissent  dans  la  texte, 
mais,  iorsque  cele  Atait  possible,  ces  peges  n'ont 
pes  AtA  filmAes. 

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Commentaires  suppl6mentaires: 


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point  de  vue  bibllographiqua,  qui  peuvent  modifier 
une  image  reproduite,  ou  qui  peuvent  exiger  une 
modification  dana  la  mithoda  normale  de  f ilmage 
sont  indiquto  ci-dessous. 


|~n   Coloured  pages/ 


Pages  de  couleur 

Pages  damaged/ 
Pages  endommagAea 

Pages  restored  and/oi 

Pages  restaurtea  at/ou  pelliculAes 

Pages  discoloured,  stained  or  foxe« 
Pages  dAcolorAea,  tachettea  ou  piquAas 


1^   Pages  damaged/ 

r~~|   Pages  restored  and/or  laminated/ 

ITT^   Pages  discoloured,  stained  or  foxed/ 


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Pages  ditachtes 


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Qualit6  inigaSa  de  I'impreasion 

Includes  supplementary  material/ 
Comprend  du  material  suppiAmantaire 

Only  edition  available/ 
Seule  Mition  disponibie 


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Pages  wholly  or  partially  obscured  by  errata 
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ensure  the  best  possible  image/ 
Les  pages  totaiement  ou  partieilement 
obscurcies  par  un  feuiilet  d'errata,  une  pelure, 
etc.,  ont  4t6  filmAes  it  nouveau  de  fapon  A 
obtenir  la  meilieure  image  possible. 


This  item  is  filmed  at  the  reduction  ratio  checked  below/ 

Ce  document  est  film*  au  taux  de  reduction  indiquA  ci-dessous. 


10X 

14X 

18X 

22X 

26X 

XX 

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12X 


16X 


20X 


24X 


28X 


32X 


The  copy  filmed  here  has  been  reproduced  thanks 
to  the  generosity  of: 

Nationai  Library  of  Canada 


L'exemplaire  filmi  fut  reproduit  grAce  d  la 
gindrositi  de: 

Bibliothdque  nationale  du  Canada 


The  images  appearing  here  are  the  best  quality 
possible  considering  the  condition  and  legibUity 
of  the  original  copy  and  In  keeping  with  the 
filming  contract  specifications. 


Les  images  suivantes  ont  4t6  reprodultes  avec  le 
plus  grand  soin,  compte  tenu  de  la  condition  et 
de  la  netteti  de  rexemplaire  film6,  et  en 
conformity  avec  les  conditions  du  contrat  de 
filmage. 


Original  copies  in  printed  paper  covers  are  filmed 
beginning  with  the  front  cover  and  ending  on 
the  last  page  with  a  printed  or  illustrated  Impres- 
sion, or  the  back  cover  when  appropriate.  All 
other  original  copies  are  filmed  beginning  on  the 
first  page  with  a  printed  or  illustrated  impres- 
sion, and  ending  on  the  last  page  with  a  printed 
or  illustrated  impression. 


Les  exemplaires  originaux  dont  la  couverture  en 
papier  est  imprimis  sont  filmis  en  commenpant 
par  le  premier  [   at  et  en  terminant  soit  par  la 
derniAre  page  qui  comporte  une  empreinte 
d'Impression  ou  d'illustration,  soit  par  le  second 
plat,  selon  le  cas.  Tous  les  autres  exemplaires 
originaux  sont  filmis  en  commenpant  par  la 
premiere  page  qui  comporte  une  empreinte 
d'Impression  ou  d'illustration  et  en  terminant  par 
la  derniire  page  qui  comporte  une  telle 
empreinte. 


The  last  recorded  frame  on  each  microfiche 
shall  contain  the  symbol  -^  (meaning  "CON- 
TINUED "I,  or  the  symbol  V  (meaning  "END"), 
whichever  applies. 


Un  des  symboles  suivants  apparaTtra  sur  la 
dernidre  image  de  cheque  microfiche,  selon  le 
cas:  le  symbole  — ►  signifie  "A  SUIVRE  ".  le 
symbole  V  signifie  "FIN". 


Maps,  plates,  charts,  etc.,  may  be  filmed  at 
different  reduction  ratios.  Those  too  large  to  be 
entirely  included  in  one  exposure  are  filmed 
beginning  in  the  upper  left  hand  corner,  left  to 
right  and  top  to  bottom,  as  many  frames  as 
required.  The  following  diagrams  illustrate  the 
method: 


Les  cartes,  planches,  tableaux,  etc.,  peuvent  6tre 
filmds  d  des  taux  de  reduction  diff6rents. 
Lorsque  le  document  est  trop  grand  pour  dtre 
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de  I'angle  sup6rieur  gauche,  de  gauche  d  droite, 
et  de  haut  en  bas,  en  prenant  le  nombre 
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M  E  M  O  1  R 


«)i' 


THE   LIFIC   AXJ)    PUBLIC   SERVICES 


OK 


JOHN  CHARLES  FREMONT, 


1 

i: 


INCLUDING    AN    ACCOUNT    OF    HIS    KXPL0RATI0\:4,    HT8C0VKRIE8    AND    ADVENTURKS     ON    FIVB 

SUCCliSSIVR   BXPKDITIONS   ACROSS  TIIK   NORTH   AMERICAN   CONTINKST;    VOLUMINOIS 

SKLKCTIONS    FROM     HIS     PRIVATE     AND     PUBLIC    CORRKSPONDKSCB ;     IlIH 

DEFENCE    BEFORE  THE  COURT    MARTIAL,    AND   FULL    REPORi'S 

OF   HIS   PRINCIPAL   SPEECHES   IN   THE   SENATE 

OF  THE   ONITKD   STATES. 


BY  JOHN  BIGELOW. 


WITH    SPIRITED    ILLUSTRATIONS,    AND   AN   ACCURATE    PORTRAIT   ON    STKKL. 


— *► 


NEW    YORK: 
DERBY    &    JACKSON,    119    NASSAU    ST. 

H.    W.    DERBY    &    CO.,    CINCINNATI. 

1850. 


3371 


Knt.,«d  .orording  to  Act  of  Congre..,  in  the  year  1856.  by 
DERBY    k    JACKSON, 


1«  th.-  Clork',  Offlc.  of  the  Di.trict  Court  of  tb.  Uuitnd 


Stut..i,  for  the  Southern  Dmiri.t  of  Xew  York. 


W.  U.  TlNKoN,  Sturcotypa 


I 


ALEXANDER      VON      HUMBOLDT, 

THIS   MEMOIR   OF   ONK   WHOSE 

m  Rkspectfi;li,y  inscribed  by 

THE  AUTHOR. 


I 


I   -il 


t 


PREFACE. 


i 


The  engro.^sing  and  universal  interest  recently  awakened,  in 
the  subject  of  this  memoir,  by  the  presentation  of  his  name  as 
a  candidate  for  tiie  Presidency ,  is  the  author's  apology  for  the 
faults  of  hasty  preparation,  which  appear  in  the  following  pages. 
He  felt,  however,  that  the  public  were  more  concerned  with  the 
matter  than  the  manner  of  his  work,  and  \^ould  pardon  almost 
anything  in  its  execution  more  readily  than  delay.  Under  this 
impression  he  has  aimed  at  but  two  results — fullness  and  accu- 
racy. He  has  endeavored  to  lay  before  the  reader  every  event 
in  the  life  of  Col.  Fremont,  and  the  substance  of  every  letter, 
report,  or  speech  of  a  public  charactei*  that  he  has  v.  ritten  or 
made,  having  a  tendency  to  enlighten  the  country  in  regard  to 
his  qualifications  for  the  highest  honors  of  the  Republic.  The 
author  is  not  conscious  of  having  suppressed  anything  that  ought 
to  have  been  revealed,  or  of  having  stated  a  single  fact  which  he 
did  not  believe  to  be  susceptible  of  proof.  To  escape  the  sus- 
picions, however,  to  which  a  biography  of  a  presidential  candi- 
date is  necessarily  exposed,  he  has  uniformly  given  official  doc- 
uments and  contemporary  evidence  of  the  events  he  records, 
whenever  it  was  practicable,  that  his  readers  may  hav«  as  little 
trouble  as  possible  in  adjusting  the  measure  of  allowance  to  bo 


< 


v\ 


rnF.FACE. 


iniuU;  for  Mic  partialltioa  of  political  or  porsoiuil  friciulsliip.  A 
glance  at  the  following  pages  will  satisfy  the  most  cursory  ob- 
H-rver  that  it  is  no  mere  eulogy,  but  a  faithful  record  of  the 
life  of  Colonel  Fremont,  prepared,  if  not  with  skill  and  elegance, 
at  least  with  diligence  and  u  conscientious  regard  for  truth. 
lie  regrets  that  the  brief  time  allowed  for  its  preparation,  and 
the  pressure  of  engrossing  j)rofessional  duties  have  prevented 
his  making  it  less  unworthy  of  its  subject. 


i! 


COKTENTS. 


— *►■ 


Parentngp,  Birtli  and  EducHlion, 


CHAPTER  I. 


tAUM 
.      11 


ClIAI'TEn  11. 

Chooses  his  Profession-  Marries  Jessie  Benton, 


80 


CHAPTER  III. 


Pir*.t  Exploring  Expedition-Explores  the  South  Pass-Plants  the  A„,pH.       » 
on  U.e  highest  Peak  of  the  Rocky  Mountains-Speech  of Ittor ^fn^         .       ' 


86 


CHAPTER   IV. 

Second  Exploring  Expedition-Kit  Carson-Mrs.  Fremont  withholds  OrH»«  fv 
the  War  Departu.en,_Colonel  Benton's  Account  or  the  Expelt^^^^^^^^ 
Inland  Sea-Perilous  Voyage  to  its  Mands  in  a  linen  Boat-Arrives  a   Fort  V.^J 
couver  and  fulfills  the  Instructions  of  his  Government,  .  '"" 


CHAPTER    V, 

Second  Exploring  Expedition  continued-Sets  out  from  Fort  Vancouver- 


ver— Interest- 


ing  Indian  Council-Speech  of  Col.  Fremont-Journey  through  the  MountlinT 
Insanity  of  hi.  Men  fro.n  P.vation  and  Coid-Preuss'lose.  hi    wly-A    iva,:; 
the  Riinche  of  Cai.tuin  Sutter,    ....  'i' rival  at 


82 


vU 


'  i 


vin 


CONTKNTS. 


CHAPTER    VI. 


Second  Exploring  Expedition  concliiilod— Kiicamps  among  tlie  Digger  Indians — 
TiiL'ir  Habits  and  Cliui'ucicr — Massucro  of  Tabeau — Recovciy  of  liis  Keiiiains — 
Return  to  Utah  Lake— Anulyjiiii  of  tlie  Residts  of  llie  Expedition  by  its  Counnand- 
cr llu 


CIIArTKU  VII. 

Third  Expedition — First  Visit  to  Mariposas— Strange  Phases  of  Indian  Life— Fight, 
Willi  llor.se-thii.1"  Indians — Loses  all  liis  Cattle  in  tlie  Snow— Hostile  Message  from 
Governor  Castro — Hoists  the  Anieriean  Flag  in  California — Col.  Benton's  Aecount 
of  the  Couque>t  of  California— Kit  Carson's  Account  of  a  Night  Attack  l)y  a  Party 
of  Tlainatli  Indians— Pardon  of  Pico  Secretary  Marcy's  Account  of  tlie  Conquest 
of  Califoruia — Establishes  the  Independence  of  California, 123 


CHAPTER  VIII. 

Conquest  of  California  completed— Joins  Commodore  Stockton — Description  of  his 
Parly  on  its  arrival  at  Monterey— Organizes  the  California  Battalion — is  appointed 
M^ijor — Origin  of  the  Controversy  between  Commodore  Stockton  and  Brigadier- 
General  Kearney — Commodore  Stockton's  report  of  the  Conquest  of  South  Cali- 
fornia—Insurrection of  the  Wali-lali-wali-lah  Indians  quelled— Capitulation  of 
Couenga— Fremont  Governor  of  California, 168 


CHAPTER   IX. 

Origin  of  the  Controversy  between  Col.  Fremont  and  General  Kearney — Is  ordered 
by  General  Kearney  not  to  re-organize  the  California  Battalion — His  Reply — 
General  Kearney  claims  the  Couniiand  of  the  Californian  Army — Comuiodore 
Stockton  refuses  to  yield  it — Their  Correspondence — New  Instructions  from  Wash- 
ington— Kearney  takes  the  Conmiand — Fremont  is  ordered  Home — Hostile  Corres- 
pondence with  Col.  Mason — Arrested  at  Fort  Leavenworth— Invited  to  a  Public 
Dinner  at  St.  Louis — Letter  declining  the  Invitation — Arrives  at  Washington,      .  189 


CHAPTER  X.. 

Fremont  arrives  at  Washington — Demands  a  Court  Martial — Illness  and  Death  of 
his  Mother— Court  Martial  ordered— Its  Organization  and  Progress  -  Fremont's 
Defence- Verdict  of  the  Court — Sentence  remitted  by  the  President — Resigns  his 
Commission  and  retires  from  the  Army, 217 


.1  '^  i 

'll 

II 


CONTENTS. 


IX 


110 


CHAPTER  XI. 


PAoa 


Colonel  Fremont  projects  a  fourth  Exploring  Expedition-California  Claims  Bill- 
Speecl,es  of  Senators  lionton,  Clarke  and  U,x-.Map  and  Geograpl.icul  Men.oir- 
R.purt  of  Senator  Breese-Pr.,fes.sor  Torrey's  I'lanta,  Freniontian^-Gold,-,. 
Medal  from  the  King  c,f  Prussia-Letter  fron>  Huniboldt-Foun.ler-s  Medal  fro.n 
the  U,.yal  Geographical  Society  of  London-Letters  from  John  M.  Clayton  and 
Ahbott  Lawrence— Reply  of  Col.  Fremont, "  .j,, 


123 


CHAPTER  XII. 

Correspondence  between  Col.  Fremont  and  Captain  Charles  Wilkes, 


8>!4 


CHAPTER   XIII. 

Fourth  Expdifion-Encamped  in  Knn..as-Terrible  Journey  through  the  Mountains 
-Frightful  Snow  Storm-One  hundred  and  twenty  Mules  frozen  to  Death  in  one 
Night-Starvation  of  his  Comrades-Meets  an  unexpected  Friend-Reaches  tlie 
Ranche  of  Kit  Carson-Thrilling  Letter  to  his  Wife- Adventure  with  Navahoes 
Indians, 


357 


J<if 


ISS 


CHAPTER  XIV. 

Fremont  settles  in  Mariposas-Cause  of  Indian  Hostilities-Title  to  Mariposas— 
Original  Deed  of  the  Estate— Title  questioned  and  resisted  by  Caleb  Cushing- 
Conflrmed  by  the  U.  S.  Supreme  Court-Opinion  of  Chief  Justice  Taney-Receives 
the  appointment  of  Mexican  Boundary  Commissioiier-His  Magnanimity  to 
Colonel  Weller-First  political  Letter-Elected  to  the  United  States  Senate  879 


89 


CHAPTER  XV. 

Sails  for  AVashington  as  United  States  Senator-Takes  the  Chagres  Fever-letter  to 
the  Philadelphia  Pacific  Railroad  Convention. 

••••>..  898 


17 


CHAPTER    XVI. 

Fremont's  Career  as  United  States  Senator-Speech  on  the  Indian  Agency  Bill 
Speech  on  the  Bill  making  temporary  Provisions  for  wovking  ,rMim"Tf  c  7 
^^.  a-Chal.enges  Senator  Foote-Foote.  Retraction-Fremont's  Le       l^  .u      ! 


40S 


if 

4 


1 1 


CONTENTS. 


CHAPTER  XVII. 

Return  to  California— Illness — Candidate  for  re-election  to  the  United  States  Senat? 
— Goes  to  Europe— Projects  liis  Fiftii  and  Last  Exploring  Tour— His  Hardsliips  and 
Triumph — Letter  from  Purawan — Prairies  on  Fire — A  careless  Sentinel — Huerfano 
Butte — A  cheerless  Night — Fall  of  Mules  down  the  Mountains — Tiireate'ied  by 
Indians — How  they  were  repelled — Reduced  to  eat  Horse-meat — They  swear  not 
to  Eat  each  other — Freezing,  Death,  and  Burial  of  Fuller— Declines  a  Public  Dinner 
in  San  Francisco — Returns  to  Washington,      ........  428 


CHAPTER    XVIII. 

Col.  Fremont  comes  to  reside  in  New  York — Is  talked  of  for  the  Presidency — Letter 
to  Gov.  Robinson  of  Kansas — Letter  to  a  Public  Meeting  in  New  York  upon  the 
Subject  of  Troubles  in  Kansas — Is  nominated  for  the  Presidency  by  the  National 
Republican  Convention— Letter  of  Acceptance— Letter  accepting  the  Nomination 
of  the  "  National  Americans," 446 


CHAPTER    XIX. 


Coaclusion, 
APPENDIX, 


.  461 

.    4C7 


enat» 
s  and 
rfano 
(I  by 
r  not 
nner 


423 


THE   LIFE 


or 


tter 
the 
inal 
;ion 


440 


JOHN   CIIARIES   FREMONT. 


-*► . 


.  461 


4C7 


I 


CHAPTER    I. 

PARENTAGE,   BIETH   AND   EDUCATION. 

In  the  soci.-il  disruptions  of  the  French  Revolution, 
many  broken  fortunes  were  replanted  in  America,  and 
in  the  words  of  Chateaubriand,  then  himself  a  wanderer 
m  our  country,  "the  names  of  settlements  in  the  United 
States  became  a  touching  record  of  the  wrecks  of 
European  homes,"  What  seemed  then  only  an  adverse 
stroke  of  fortune  to  those  upon  whom  it  fell,  proved  the 
establishment  of  many  prosperous  families— the  seed 
scattered  by  the  storm  bearing  a  hundred  fold  on  the 
rich  soil  of  the  New  World. 

During  this  time,  a  passenger  ship  bound  to  one  of 
the  French  West  Indian  possessions,  was  taken  by  an 
English  man-of-war  on  the  eve  of  reaching  her  destina- 
tion. The  passengers,  with  the  ship,  were  carried 
prisoners  into  one  of  the  English  islands,  where  they 
experienced  the  usual  rigid  treatment  of  prisoners  of 
war  in  that  day.     Among  them  was  a  youn*'-  French- 


!( 


"^ 


I 


12 


LIFE    AND    SKIIVICKS  OF   JOHN    C.    FREMONT. 


man  of  the  name  of  Fremont,  fruin  the  neigliborhood  of 
Lyons,  who  was  on  his  way  to  join  an  aunt  in  St. 
Domingo. 

.  Daring  his  protracted  captivity,  M.  Fremont  eked  out 
tlie  scanty  prison  allowance  by  basket-making — a  com- 
mon resource  among  the  prisoners — in  which  his  supe- 
rior taste  soon  enabled  him  to  excel.  Some  skill  in 
painting,  too,  procured  him  occasional  employment  in 
decorating  ceilings  with  the  frescoes  which  are  common 
in  the  dwellings  of  the  wealthier  families  of  the  tropics. 
After  some  years'  detention,  he  was  finally  liberated 
or  escaped  (the  latter,  it  is  believed),  and  in  his  endeav- 
ors to  find  his  way  homeward,  finally  arrived  at  Nor- 
folk, Virginia.  Being  entirely  without  resource  for  the 
farther  prosecution  of  his  homeward  voyage,  he  gave 
lessons  in  his  native  language  to  the  citizens  of  Norfolk. 
He  was  a  man  of  superior  accomplishments  and  high 
breeding,  spoke  English  fluently,  and  was  a  welcome  guest 
in  the  best  society  of  the  city  and  State.  He  here  b  ^- 
canie  acquainted  with,  and  afterwards  married,  the  future 
mother  of  John  Charles  Fremont,  Anne  Beverley,  one 
of  the  daughters  of  Col.  Thomas  Whiting,  of  Gloucester 
county,  an  orphan,  and  one  of  the  most  beautiful  women 
of  her  day  in  the  State  of  Virginia.  This  Colonel  Whit- 
ing's father  was  the  brother  of  Catharine  Whiting,  who 
was  a  grand  aunt  of  George  Washington.*  In  her 
commenced  the  connection  by  marriage  of  the  Whitings 
of  Virginia  witli  the  most  illustrious  family  of  this,  or 
perhaps  of  any  country ;  a  connection  subsequently 
drawn  still  closer  by  repeated  matrimonial  alliances.f 

*  Sparks's  Washington,  vol.  i.,  648  ;  ib.  vol.  v.,  268  ;  ib.  vol.  vi.,  296. 
f  lu  a  brief  sketch  of  his  family  descent,  which  General  Washington 
furnished  at  tu»»  reqnpsr  of  Sir  Isaac  Heard,  in  1792,  he  says : 


BIRTH,    PARENTAGE,    AND   EDUCATION. 


St. 


i 


Colonel  Whiting,  Mrs.  Fremont's  father,  was  one  of 
tlie  most  wealrliy  and  prominent  men  of  his  day  in 
Yirii'inia  ;  he  was  a  leadinii*  member  of  the  House  of  Bur- 
gesses,  and  during  the  llevolutiun  was  President  of  the 
Naval  Board  at  Williamsburgh  (then  tlie  seat  of  govern- 
ment), ofticially  the  most  exalted  position,  at  that  time, 
in  tiie  CoU^ny.*  Prior  to  the  revolution  he  had  been 
king's  attorney. 

''Lawrence  Wa.^hington,  his  eldest  son  (of  John  Washington,  the 
founder  of  the  family  in  this  country)  marrie'l  Mildred  Warner,  daughter 
of  Colonel  Augustine  Warner,  of  Gloucester  comity,  by  whom  he  had 
two  sons,  John  and  Augustine,  and  one  danglUer,  named  Mildred.  He 
died  in  1097,  and  was  interred  in  the  family  vault  at  Bridge's  Creek. 

"  John  Washington,  the  eldest  son  of  Lawrence  and  Mildred,  married 
Catharine  Whiting  (sister  of  ColonolThomas  Whiting,  the  grandfather  of 
Mrs.  Fremont  the  elder)  of  Gloucester  county,  wheie  he  settled,  died, 
and  was  buried.  lie  had  two  sons,  Warner  and  Ilonry,  and  three 
daughters,  Mildred,  Elizabeth,  and  Catharine,  all  of  whom  are  dead. 

"  Warner  Washington  married  first  Elizabeth  Macon,  daughter  of  Col. 
William  Macr  n,  of  New  Kent  county,  by  whom  he  had  one  son,  who  is 
now  living,  and  bears  the  name  of  Warner.  His  second  wife  was 
Hannah,  youngest,  daugh*^er  of  the  Honorable  William  Fairfax,  by  whom 
he  left  two  sons  and  five  daughters  as  follows,  namely  :  Mildred,  Hannah, 
Catharine,  Elizabeth,  Louisa,  Fairfax  and  Whiting.     The  three  eldest  of 

the  daughters  are  married,  Mildred  to  Throckmorton,  Hannah  to 

Whiting,  and  Catharine  to Xelson.     After  his  second  marriage 

he  removed  from  Gloucester,  and  settled  in  Frederick  county,  where  he 
died  in  1701. 

"  Warner  Washington,  his  son,  married Whiting,  of  Gloucester, 

by  whom  he  has  many  sons  and  daughters."  *  *  * — Sparks^s  Wash- 
inrffon,  vol.  i.,  p.  548. 

*  In  Henning's  Statutes  at  Largo,  vol.  ix.,  we  fiiid  the  following  ordi- 
nance in  relation  to  this  connnission : 

"May,  1776. — Inteuukoncm. 

"^n  ordinance  for  establishincf  a  Board  of  Coinniisxloners^  to  superintend 
and  direct  the  Naval  affairs  of  this  Colony. 
•'  Wfiereas^  the  Naval  preparations  of  this  Colony  will  be  carried  on 


14 


I-TFE   AND   SERVICES   CF   JOHN   C.    FRKMONT. 


I 


I 


1 


11! 


Mi 


lie  was  also  a  man  of  large  wealth.  lie  owned  the 
whole  of  the  land  lying  between  North  River  and  Ware 
Kiver,  in  Gloncester  connty.  His  prominence  as  the 
president  of  the  Naval  Board  exposed  him  specially  to 
the  dei)redations  of  the  English  on  the  coast,  notwith- 
standing which,  when  he  died,  he  left  eight  separate 
estates  to  his  eight  surviving  children,  and  thirty  negroes 
with  each.*  The  principal  residence  of  the  family  was 
at  Elmington. 

with  greater  expedition  and  success  if  proper  persons  are  appointed, 
whoiie  business  it  sliall  be  particularly  to  superintend  and  direct  the 
same, 

"  Be  it  therefore  ordained,  by  the  delegates  of  Virginia  now  in  General 
Convention,  and  it  is  herehi/  ordained  bij  the  anthoriti/  of  the  same,  That 
Thomas  Whiting,  John  Ilutehings,  Champion  Travis,  Thomas  Newton, 
Junior,  and  George  Webb,  Esfiuires,  be,  and  are  hereby  appointed  and 
declared  a  Board  of  Commii^sioners,"  &c.,  &c. 

*  The  following  is  a  copy  of  Col.  Wliiting's  will.  The  estate  was 
largely  increased  before  the  division  took  place  : 

WILL    OF   THOMAS   WHITING,  GUAXDFATHER   OF  COL.  FREMONT. 

"In  the  name  of  God.  Amen.  I,  Thomas  Whiting,  of  the  Parish  of 
Abingdon,  in  the  County  of  Gloucester,  do  make  this  my  last  will  and 

testament,  as  followeih J7iipr!mix,  I  desire  all  my  just  debts  to  be 

paid.  1  give  to  my  son,  Thomas  Whiting,  the  land  purchased  of  Jos. 
Devenport  and  Edward  Howe,  lying  in  Al»ington  Parish  and  County  afore- 
8aid,  containing  about  six  hundred  acres,  more  or  less,  to  him  and  hig 
Jieirs.  I  do  give  unto  my  said  son,  Tliomas,  the  houses  and  lots  I  possess 
in  Glostertown,  to  him  and  his  heirs.  I  give  unto  my  two  sons,  Henry 
Whiting  and  Horatio  Whiting,  and  their  heirs,  my  two  plantations,  lying 
in  the  Parish  and  County  aforesaid,  called  and  known  by  the  names, 
Hackney  and  Rumford,  including  the  land  purchased  of  \Vm.  Sawyer, 
and  the  land  purchased  of  Robert  Coleman's  estate,  jointly  with  Col. 
Warner  Lewis — equally  to  be  divided  between  thorn.  It  is  my  wish  and 
desire,  that  my  wife,  Eliza  Wliiting.  take  her  dower  of  my  lands  in  those 
divided  to  my  sons,  Henry  and  Horatio,  and  not  in  the  land  divided  to 
my  sou  Tliouuis  ;  but  if  she  should,  then  I  give  my  son  Thomas,  in  c-  le 


BIRTH,    PARENTAGE,    AND   EDUCATION. 


15 


Col.  "VVhiting  also  enjoyed  the  notable  distinction  of 
having  held  the  infant  George  Washington  in  his  arms, 
when   he   was   baptized,   an    incident   which',    though 


my  wife  should  take  her  dower  in  his  lands  us  aforesaid,  his  choice  either  to 
take  the  lands  devised  to  his  brothers  as  aforesaid,  or  of  the  lauds  before 
devised  to  him  ;  and  if  he  should  make  choice  of  the  Hackney  aud  Rum- 
ford,  and  the  other  lands  therewith  devised,  and  then  in  such  a  case,  I 
give  the  lands  devised  to  Thomas,  to  the  siiid  Henry  and  Horatio,  equally 
to  be  divided  between  them  and  their  heirs  :  in  either  case  my  son 
Thomas  to  have  my  houses  and  lots  and  Glostertown,  sultject  to  my  wife's 
dower.  I  give  unto  my  son,  Thomas  Whiting,  and  his  heirs,  thirty 
slaves,  and  that  he  may  have  my  coachman.  Porter,  in  his  part,  and  boy 
Dunmore.  I  give  to  my  daughter,  Sarah  Whiting,  fifteen  slaves  to  her 
and  h'  •  heirs,  and  that  she  may  have  Peg,  Sail's  daughter,  and  also  Har- 
riet, in  her  part.  I  give  imto  my  daughter,  Catharine  Whiting,  and  her 
heirs,  fifteen  slaves,  and  that  she  may  have  Frank,  and  Patt,  and  her 
children,  in  her  part.  I  give  unto  my  daughter,  Kliza  T.  W'liting,  fifteen 
elaves,  to  her  and  her  heirs,  and  that  she  may  have  in  her  part,  mulatto 
Kate  and  her  four  children — Dinah,  Molly,  Will,  and  Dennis — and  as  my 
wife  will  have  her  dow<^r  iu  all  my  slaves,  I  desire  that  she  may  have  in 
her  part — that  is,  in  her  dower — three  slaves,  to  wit :  the  cook  Hannah, 
Abigail,  Agatha,  Bob,  Barnaby,  Ailce,  and  her  child.  Porter ;  Amarillis, 
Kelson,  Egine,  Rachel,  Sue,  Hannah's  son  Will,  Isabel,  Lawrane,  and 
Augustie.  I  give  unto  my  five  youngest  children,  Henry,  Horatio,  Su- 
sanna, Jane,  and  Ann  Whiting,  all  the  rest  of  my  slaves — that  is,  exclu- 
sive of  those  before  devised — and  my  wife's  dower,  to  them  and  their 
heirs,  equally  to  be  divided  between  them,  and  after  my  said  wife's 
death.  I  also  give  unto  my  said  five  youngest  children,  herein  men- 
tioned, the  slaves  she  may  hold  as  her  dower  aforesaid,  and  their  increase 
to  them  and  their  heirs,  equally  to  be  divided  between  them  and  their 
representatives ;  and  it  is  my  desire  in  the  division  and  allotment  of  my 
said  slaves,  that  regard  may  be  had  to  the  ages  and  sexes  of  them,  so  as 
to  make  them  as  nearly  equal  in  value,  as  may  be  agreeable  to  the 
bequest  aforesaid.  I  give  to  my  son  Thomas,  my  gun,  sword,  books,  and 
Hector ;  also  a  mare  and  colt  formerly  given  him.  I  do  appoint  my 
friends,  Charles  M.  Thurston,  guardian  to  my  son  Thom  is,  and  daughter 
Ehza ;  and  do  give  unto  the  said  Charles  M.  Timvston  full  power  to  sell 
and  dispose  of  any  part  of  my  said  son's  estate,  real  and  pergonal,  if  he 
shall  judge  it  for  my  said  son's  interest  and  advantage  so  to  do.    I  give 


I 


I 


;! 


I 

1 1 


18 


LIFE    AND    SKRVICK8   OF  JOHN   C.    FUKMONT. 


trifling  perhaps  in  itself,  serves  to  show  the  kind  of  rela- 
tions suUsistiiiij:  between  tlie  two  funiilies. 

lie  was  married  three  times  and  had  tifteen  elilldren, 
eiglit  of  wliom  snrvived  liim.  llis  last  wife,  Elizabeth 
8ewall,  by  whom  he  had  three  of  them,  including  Anne 
Beverley,  al'terwards  tlie  mother  of  Colonel  Fremont, 
snrvived  him,  and  married  Samuel  Carey,  by  whom  she 
l)ad  four  children.*     Mr.  Carey  managed  the  estate  so 

unto  my  prandson,  Thomas  ITubard  and  his  lioirs,  all  the  lands  I  have  in 
Pettiworth  I'arish,  in  tlic  ooiuity  aforesaid.  All  the  rest  of  my  estate,  not 
heretofore  devised,  I  give  to  be  ccnially  divided  among  all  my  ehildren, 
to  wit :  Thomas,  Henry,  Horatio,  Sarah,  Catharine,  Eliza  T.,  Susanna, 
Jane,  and  Ann  Whiting.  Lastly,  1  appoint  my  beloved  wife,  Eliza  Whi- 
ting, Exeeuirix,  and  my  friends,  Charles  M.  Thurston,  John  Page  of 
Rosewell,  and  Warner  Lewis,  jun..  Executors  of  this  my  last  will,  hereby 
revolving  all  wills  heretofore  by  me  made.  In  witness  whereof,  I  have 
hereunto  set  my  hand  and  seal  the  15th  day  of  October,  Anno  Domini 
17  8U. 

*'  Thomas  Whitixo." 

"  Signed,  scaled,  published,  and  declared  by  the  testator  as  and  for  his 
last  will,  in  presence  of  us, 

Richard  Cauy. 

Johanna  Dun  lap, 

Robert  Innis." 

*  This  intermarriage  with  the  Carys,  established  another  marit;il  con- 
nexion between  the  Whiting  and  the  Washington  families,  a  daughter  of 
Col.  Carey  having  married  a  son  of  Lord  Fairfax,  whose  cousin's  daughter 
married  George  Washington's  brother,  Lawrence. 

This  connexion  lends  interest  to  the  following  extract  from  a  letter 
written  by  Washington  to  George  Wm.  Fairfax  in  1778. 

*'  Lord  Fairfax,  as  I  have  been  told,  after  having  been  bowed  down  to 
the  grave  and  in  a  manner  shaken  hands  with  death,  is  perfectly  restored 
and  enjoys  his  usual  good  health  and  as  much  vigor  as  falls  to  the  lot  of 
ninety.  Miss  Fairfax  was  upon  the  point  of  marriage  in  December  last, 
with  a  relation  of  mine,  a  Mr.  Whiting;  but  her  ill  health  delayed  it  at 
that  time  and  what  has  since  happened  I  am  notr  informed.  Your  niecea 
in  Alexandria  are  both  married;  the  elder  to  Mr.  Herbert,  the  younger 


I 


etter 


I 


BIRXn,    TARENTAOE,    AND    EDCCATION. 


17 


iinprovidently  tluit  the  children  hy  tlic  lirst  marria^^o 
Avere  ultimately  compelled  to  resort  to  the  cuiirtB  tor  an 
account  and  apportionment  of  the  property.^ 

to  Mr.  Ilurvcy  Whitinp,  Hon  of  Frank  in  Borkelov.  Mrs.  Carey,  lior  son 
Col.  Carey,  Mr,  Nioliolas,  Mr,«.  Aniblor  and  their  rcspcotivo  faniiliea 
wore  h11  well  Hl)Out  two  months  a^'O.  Mis.s  Caiey  Ih  married  to  Thomas 
Nelson,  second  sou  to  the  Secretary.         *  *  *  » 

— Spark:s^s  Wnnfihif/ton,  vol.  v.  p.  268. 

*  Amonp  the  records  of  the  Superior  Court  of  Chaiu'pry  held  in  Rich- 
mond, June  13th,  1810,  there  is  a  petition  and  decree  on  tile  (one  of  the 
fruits  we  prcsuuu;  of  the  litigation  referred  to  in  the  text),  directing 
ihat  the  slave  of  which  the  said  father  Thomas  Whiting  died  possess- 
ed or  to  which  ho  was  entitled,  and  the  increase  of  the  females,  be  divided 
and  allotted  to  the  sevei'al  parties  accord'ug  to  their  respective  rights," 
by  coumiissioners  uanu'd  in  the  decree.  Tlie  award  of  the  commissioners, 
in  itself  a  sufficiently  curious  document,  runs  as  follows : 

"In  pursuance  of  tlie  a!)Ove  annexed  decree.  We  the  subscribers 
being  commissioners  named  therein,  have  this  day  divided  the  slaves 
belonging  to  the  estate  of  Thomas  Wliiting  deceased,  which  were  pro- 
duced to  us  by  Robert  Cowne,  his  executor,  in  the  following  manner,  viz. : 

"To  John  Lowry  and  Susanna  his  wife  the  negroes  contained  In  lot 
No.  1.  viz:  Bob  .Sl(i(\  Coxen  $400,  Aggy  and  child  Lucy  $380,  Augusta 
and  children  Billey,  Harriet,  Agnes  and  Edmond,  $8'20,  Old  Betty — 
and  the  estimated  value  of  negroes  sold  by  said  Lowry  about  six  years 
ago  $455. 

"  To  John  C.  Pryor,  ad'm.  of  Henry  Whiting  deceased,  the  negroes  con- 
tained in  lot  No.  2,  viz. :  Peter  $400,  Barnaba  $333,  Henry  $300,  Jane 
and  children,  Mary  and  an  infant  10  months  old,  $165.  Lucy  and 
children  Betty,  Cate,  Mariah,  and  a  male  infant,  $730,  Sarah  $150,  Joe 
$r)(\  and  old  Frank  $">. 

"To  John  Pryor  and  Ann  his  wife  the  negroes  contained  in  lot  No.  3, 
vi/. :  Phil  $400,  Bliick  Peter  $400,  Peggy  $300,  Hannah*  and  children 
Stirling  and  Salley  $580,  Billey  $250.  Eugene  $230,  and  the  estimated 
value  of  a  nogro  soM  by  said  Pryor  about  about  two  years  ago  $224, 
and  to  Morgan  Tomkies,  who  it  appefvrs  is  entitled  to  the  interest  of 
Charles  Grymes  aud  Jane  his  wife,  the  negroes  contained  in  lot  No.  4, 

*  The  slave  Hannnli  mentioned  In  the  above  list  was  afterwards  Colonel  Fremont's 
nurse^ 


^1 


111' 


1 1) 


;i 


,i: 


18 


LIFK    AND   Sl.KVlCES   OF   JOHN    C.    FIIKMONT. 


rh. :  Frnnk  $400,  niaok  IMul  f  100,  Nelly  filOO.  Venus  and  children, 
Kitty,  Daiiifl,  rimrlea  and  IMiil  $A'M\  Duiiiel  ^'IM.  Alice  ;?150,  and 
(InrdiuT  Frank  JjdJlO — and  for  reasons  appiNiiin;;  to  ns  lot  No  4  is  to  pay 
lot  No.  !}  :5(21  f)i),  to  lot  No.  2,  $12  .')(»,  and  to  lot  No.  1,  50  cents.  It 
also  appeam  to  us  after  tlie  al)Ove  allotment  wa.s  made,  that  Joe,  in  lot 
No.  2,  was  appraised  to  ^IM)  instead  of  JJSiW),  wherefore  it  is  directed, 
that  lot  No.  2,  shall  pay  to  the  other  lots  the  sum  of  $1.5  cash. 
"Given  from  under  our  hands  this  ItUh  day  of  July,  lfsi«). 

RonKiiT  Wkst. 

John  Hi-uhks. 

\Vm.  K.  Tkuuin." 

The  following  entries  are  taken  from  a  fragment  of  the  Abington 
church  records,  which  are  deposited  at  the  (Jloucester  Court-house. 
They  appear  to  give  most  of  the  important  niarriagoa  and  deaths  in  the 
family,  lor  more  than  half  a  century,  and  they  also  furnish  interesting 
evidence  of  the  solicitude  of  Col.  Whiting,  to  have  all  his  slaves  bap- 
tized. 

1*732,  Major  Peter  Whiting,  was  buried  February  28. 

1735,  Mary,  the  daughter  of   Francis  Whiting,  and  his  wife  was  born 

20th  April,  and  baptized  0th  of  May. 
1738,  Ann,  the  daughter  of  Mr.  Beverley   Whiting,  and  his  wife  was 

born  December  22,  and  baptized  January  12. 
1742,  Sally,  Merit,  Tony,  Patt,  to  Wiiiting,  baptized  June  27. 

1742,  Catey  to  Mr.  Whiting,  born  January. 

1743,  November,  Betty  to  Mr.  Hrodr.  Whiting. 

1743,  November,   Betty,  to  Mr.  Whiting  born. 

1744,  Rob.  to  Mr.  Beverley  Whiting,  born  February. 
1744,  Sept.  Chevr,  Dfty.  to  Whiting,  were  baptized. 

1744,  Eliz.  daugh.  of  Thomas  and  Eliz.  Whiting,  born  Nov.  29. 

1746,  Anne,  daugh.  of  Thos.  and  Eliz.  Whiting,  born  August  22. 

1747,  Aggy,  to  Mr.  Thomas  Whiting,  born  February  26. 

1747,  Francis  W'hiting  was  married  to  Mrs.  Frances  Perrin,  Jan.  24. 

1749,  Mrs.  Elizal)eth  Whiting  departed  this  life  April  20. 

1749,  Richard,  male  slave,  to  Mr.  Thomas  Whiting,  baptized  Oct.  15. 

1749,  Diana,  slave  to  Mr.  Thos.  Whiting,  baptized  January  28. 

1750,  Esther,  slave  to  Mr.  Thomas  Whiting,  about  8   years  old,  bap. 

tized  April  8. 

1751,  Phill.  slave  to  Thos.  Whiting,  baptized  January  26. 

1753,  Grace,  slave  to  Mr.  Thomas  Whiting,  baptized  September  9. 


T. 


IJIUTn,    PA  RENT  AG  F,    AND    EDUCATION. 


19 


nd  children, 
e  1^150,  and 
J  4  is  to  pay 
)  cents.  It 
Joe,  in  lot 
is  directed, 


r  KST. 
IKKH. 
'KUUIN." 

i  Abingfon 
ourt-hoase. 
'vths  in  the 
interesting 
slaves  bap- 


was  bom 
wife  was 


!9. 

24. 

•ct.  15. 
d,  bap. 

3r  9. 


1764,  Henry,  slave  to  Capt.  Thomaa  Whiting,    2  months    old,   cap- 

ti/cd  September  15. 
1754,  Nelley,  slave  to  Mr.  Ucverley  Whiting,  baptized  Oct.  19. 

1765,  Mr.  Ueverley  Whiting,  departed  this  life. 

(leaf  torn,)  Thos.  Whiting  baptized  Sept  7 — (uncertain). 
1750,  Joe,  slave  to  Capt.    Thomas    Whiting,  born  May  20,  and  bap. 

tized  August  1, 
175fi,  Frank,  slave  to  Mrs. Whiting,  in  town,  bnptizfHl  August  15. 
1750,  IJoverley,  son  of  John  and  Mary  Whiting,  baptized  Oct.   18. 

1757,  Frank,  slave  to  Capt.   Thos.   Whiting,  born  April   1,   baptized 

May  8. 
176*',  Jerry,  slave  to  Capt.  Thos.  Whiting,  baptized  Sept.  25. 

1758,  Amey,     "  "         *'  "  "     February  8. 
Francis,                «'         '♦               *'  "     April  10. 

1758,    Johnny,   slave    to     Mrs.    Whiting,    Gloucestertown,   baptized 

May  28. 
1758,  Else,  slave  to  Capt.  Thos.  Whiting,  baptized  August  27. 

1758,  Beverley,  son  of  Thomius  and  Eliz.  Whiting,  born  March  10. 
1768,  Hannah,   Frankey,    slaves    to   Capt.   Thos.    Whiting,    baptized 

April  1, 

1759,  Beverley,  son  of  Capt.  Thos.  Whiting,  died  Oct.  28. 

1759,  William,   son  of  Capt.  Thomas  Whiting,  died  October  and  waa 
buried  24. 

1759,  A  negro  child  belonging  to  Mrs.  Whiting,  in  Gloucester,  died 

December  3. 
1776,  Mingo,  slave  to  Mr.  John  Whiting,  died  December  8. 

1776,  Rosse,  slave  to  Col.  Thos.  Whiting,  baptized  December  29. 
Buster,  slave  to  John  Whiting,  died  December  26. 

1777,  Cattle,  slave  to  Col.  Thomas  Whiting,  baptized  January  25. 
1777,  Bristol,  slave  to  John  Whiting,  died  January. 

1760,  Amos,  slave  to  Capt.  Thomas  Whiting,  8  months  old,  baptized 

Juno  1. 

1760,  Phill,  slave  to  Mrs.  Eliza  Whiting,  in  town,  10  months  old,  bap- 
tized June  1. 

1760,  Robert,  slave  to  Capt.  Thomas  Whiting,  baptized  Sept.  7. 

1760,  Frederic,  at  Mrs.  Whiting's  in  Gleu  Town,  died  the  last  of  Oct. 

and  was  buried  2d  of  Nov. 

1761,  Ben  and  Ned,  slaves  to  Mrs.  Whiting,  in  Gloucestertown,  bap- 

tized JIarch  22.  * 

1761,  Williai  1,  slave  to  Thos.  Whiting,  baptized  April  19. 
1761,  John,  slave  to  Capt.  Thos.  Whiting,  baptized  May  24. 
1761,  Frank,  slave  to  Capt.  Thos.  Whiting,  baptized  Nov.  1. 


so 


'""  ^"^  ""''•'"'■'  "'  •'OTO  C.   KBKMOKT. 


11 


'ii'oneo  of  tl,<.(r  i,„.tlW.t„.,l   .?r        .  ^'•'"■^'  '"  <=""««- 

^>1'"  «-<.ro  !.Ue,■.^s,o,I  rr.l       '"''  "■•'*''"'^   '^'""e   i\.v  all 

;.'"""-^  or  M.-  Ca,;         =  :  ;;™  '"-^^'^'e-eloL  i,/,„e 

'";-'   '--''•  a.  a„   el.  :    4      1  nosr,"'  '""'™^^  *° 
'  '"'-go   l>ro,,ortion  of  ,1,;   Y'  i     ]'.  •'"^i'"««sse.l  of 
''0"n  loft  1,0,..     AVl,e,       e  1,"   ^''''/'''f  "•'"•^•''  '"'d 
;™"-  l.er  .s,We.  Mrs.  I      ,. .  *  /IT     '^  ""  """'^  ^'^^^"- 
''^'-  "gainst  what  in  those  chv,'"^  '''  P™""''«   for 
deo,„e,)  the  greatest  .""101,-,"     '"  """  -'•'''«  «•"■' 
f  -"a.-n-oge  for  her  wi.h  M^i^       '  ^'T'^'  '"■™'V-ed 
'?'■  eo-uuy,  who  was   ve,T  neh    '^T'  "'^^  "*'  ^'»"«^'- 
^>.nv-two,earsofa^.eJ,  f  ".     ;""  ^^-7  gouty,  a„d 

^si<le  from  the  faml  ;    „   °"^'^J^  ^^^''^  J'er  senior, 
'-'-d   -finenion     a  d  :^; :;  V/  '""'"'  ^^•••>'-  ^'Tor, 
■;'-peet  .n."lsive  to  he  ;:  1     ■'/"'  ''"'  ■"  <'--7 
^>ecd  to  hitn.    Anne    'esi  7ti  r       ''  "■''"  ''''  ^""''^       ■ 

°'"'  the  importunities  of  her 

'"'-t'«nd  „«  a  Lie„-,enanl  '!!  "'"■"paired  faculties.    He-  f    ^ 


n. 


BIKTH,    I'AKKNTAOE,    ANT)   KDUOATION. 


St 


IS    ^Ut    Bl'x 

lior  fltep- 

LMiilios  ill 
di  III  V or. 
ts  of  tlio 
A'oen  tlie 
n  coiiso- 
lim  their 
liich  Imd 

tor  all 
party. 
•ss  in  the 
'•ess  she 
'ssed  of 
ich  had 

seven- 
id  e  for 
^le  was 
rann^ed 
louces- 
y^  and 
nior. 
Prjor, 

every 

sacri- 

>f  her 


age,  18 
and  a 


1 


Ulster  AH  l<)n<;  an  she  could,  hut  finally,  overcoMc  l»y 
a  Hcnse  of  her  honielesrt  and  dependent  conditioji,  whi(rh 
WiTo  constantly  i)resHed  upon  her  consideration,  the 
(U'spairin^jj  oi-phan  yicUlcd  to  her  vencral)lc  Huitor,  and 
became  Mvh.  JMaJor  l*ryor.  ^Marriajjje  oidy  inci'cabed 
her  regret  for  the  sacrilice  to  which  she  had  submitted. 
iShe  became  melancholy  ;  shunned  the  ^:\y  society  and 
habits  of  life  to  which  her  husband  was  addicted,  and 
tlius  dra<;ged  out  twelve  lon<^  years  of  wedded  misery. 
By  this  time,  as  they  were  childless,  both  had  beconio 
convinced  that  the  hapi>iness  of  neither  would  l)e  pro- 
moted by  continuing  to  live  longer  together,  and  they 
separated.  As  both  had  iniluential  friends,  the  legisla- 
ture of  the  State,  which  ha]>i)ened  to  be  in  session, 
])romptly  sanctioned  their  separation,  by  passing  an  act 
of  divorce.  Not  long  after  both  married  Jigain,  Mrs. 
Pryor  to  Mr.  Fremont,  and  Major  Pryor,  in  the  TGtli 
year  ()f  his  age,  to  his  housekeeper.  This  connexion  of 
course  gave  great  dissatistaction  to  the  Whitings,  who 
were  one  of  the  most  aristocratic  families  in  Virginia, 
and  could  not  understand  how  any  person  who  earned 
his  bread,  especially  by  teaching,  could  be  a  gentleman. 
But  Mrs.  Pryor  liaving  taken  their  advice  once,  as  to 
lier  first  marriage,  the  folly  of  which  she  had  expiated 
by  many  long  years  of  gilded  wretchedness,  determined 
in  this  instance  to  act  for  herself,  and  to  give  her  heart 
with  her  hand,  to  one  whom  she  esteemed  Avorthy  of 
botli.  She  had  some  means,  and  he  had  talents,  and 
both  had  courage,  and  they  did  not  feel  called  upon  at 
the  expense  of  their  own  happiness  to  spare  that  family 
pride,  which  had  not  spared  the  gentle  orphan  twelve 
years  before,  when  she  was  helpless  and  dependent. 


22 


LIFE   AND    SERVICES   OF   JOHN   C.  FREMONT. 


:     t 


After  tlieir  marriage,  in  the  gratification  of  an  interest 
which  Mr.  Fremont  in  common  with  most  cultivated 
Europeans  felt  in  the  American  Indians,  and  which  the 
remnants  of  his  wife's  fortune  enabled  him  to  indulge, 
they  travelled  for  several  years  in  the  Southern  States, 
where  large  ti*acts  of  country  were  still  occupied  by  the 
aboriginal  tribes. 

The  means  of  communication  in  that  country  then 
were  very  rude,  and  tliey  travelled  as  was  the  custom 
of  the  day,  when  means  permitted,  with  their  own 
carriage,  horses,  and  servants,  stopping  where  conve- 
nience of  towns  and  dwellings  required,  and  not  unfre" 
quently  passing  the  night  in  Indian  villages  or  by  a 
camp-tire.  It  was  during  one  of  these  excursions  that 
they  chanced  to  pass  the  night  at  the  inn  in  Nashville 
where  occurred  the  personal  encounter  between  Gen. 
Jackson  and  Col.  Benton — well  remembered  in  that 
country — the  balk  from  whose  pistols  passed  through 
the  rooms  in  which  they  happened  to  be  sitting.  And 
it  was  during  a  temporary  halt  at  Savannah,  in  Georgia, 
in  the  progress  of  the  same  expedition,  on  the  21st  of 
January,  1813,  tliat  Mrs.  Fremont  gave  birth  to  their 
eldest  chilci  and  son,  John  Charles  Fremont,  the  subject 
of  this  memoir,  who,  with  his  father's  name,  seems  to 
have  inherited  also  his  nomadic  instincts. 

The  second  child,  a  daughter,  was  born  in  Tennessee, 
and  the  youngest,  a  son,  in  Virginia  ;  shortly  after  which, 
Mr.  Fremont's  preparations  to  return  to  France  were 
defeated  by  his  death,  which  occurred  in  the  year  1818. 
At  this  time,  an  elder  brother,  Francis  was  in  Norfolk, 
with  his  family.  lie  had  emigrated  early  from  St.  Do- 
mingo. The  loss  of  his  eldest  son,  a  boy  of  sixteen,  M'ho 
was  killed  by  the  bursting  of  a  gun  at  a  fourth  of  July 


TT. 


BIRTH,    PARENTAGE,    AND   EDUCATION. 


23 


an  interest 
cultivated 
which  the 
3  indulge, 
rn  States, 
ied  by  the 

ntiy  then 

le  custom 

heir  own 

fe   conve- 

uot  iinfre- 

3  or  by  a 

sions  tliat 

Nashville 

een  Gen. 

1  in  that 

tlirongh 

And 

eorgia, 

)l8t  of 

|to  their 

subject 

ems  to 

Inessee, 
jwhich, 
were 
1818. 
»rfolk, 
!t.  Do- 
ll, who 


celebration  in  Norfolk,  saddened  the  place  to  him,  and 
he  returned  with  his  family  to  France.  lie  had  been 
anxious  to  take  with  him  liis  brother's  fam-ily,  and  made 
it  a  point  with  his  widow  to  accompany  him.  Iler  de- 
cided refusal  to  leave  her  own  country,  occasioned  an 
alienation  between  them  also,  and  she  was"  left  to  her- 
self with  the  usual  defenceless  lot  and  narrow  circum- 
stances which  are  not  the  most  uncommon  heritage  of 
widows  and  orphans. 

Of  the  brother's  family,  which  returned  to  France, 
we  have  no  knowledge,  except  of  the  recent  dea'th 
of  a  daughter  named  Cornelia,  in  a  convent  in 
South  America.  The  widow,  with  her  young  family 
now  removed  permanently  to  Charleston,  South  Caro- 
lina. 

At  an  early  age  the  eldest  boy,  with  whose  future  for- 
tunes we  are  more  particularly  concerned,  entered  the 
law  office  of  John  W.  Mitchell,  Esq.,  one  of  the  promi- 
nent citizens  of  Charleston.  Here  he  gave  such  evi- 
dence of  intelligence  and  industry  as  greatly  to  interest 
Mr.  Mitchell,  who  found  pler.cure  in  directing  the  capa- 
city he  seemed  to  possess,  and  devoted  many  of  his 
leisure  hours  lo  young  Fremont's  instruction.  The  lad's 
vigorous  aj)i)lication  required  more  time  than  Mr. 
Mitchell  had  at  his  disposal,  and,  in  prosecution  of  the 
plan  he  had  formed  for  him,  he  placed  him  under  the 
instruction  of  Dr.  John  Roberton,  a  Scotch  gentleman, 
who  had  been  educated  at  Edinburgh,  and  who  had 
established  himself  as  a  teacher,  principally  of  ancient 
languages,  at  Charleston. 

A  brief  but  interesting  memorial  of  this  part  of  young 
Fremont's  life  from  Dr.  Roberton  himself,  who,  though 
bending  under  the  weight  of  some  seventy  winters,  still 


:i 


2i 


LIFE   AND   SKRVICES   OF   JOHN   C.    FREMONT. 


continues  in  tlie  fiiitliful  exercise  of  his  profession  at 
Phihidelphia,  is  preserved  in  tlie  preface  to  an  excellejc 
interlinear  translation  of  Xenoplion's  Anabasis  wiiidi 
was  published  by  him  some  six  years  ago.  In  the 
course  of  it  ho  refers  especially  to  the  intellectual  and 
personal  habits  of  Freiiivail,,  while  under  his  charge,  and 
commends  them  to  his  j^upils,  to  whom  the  book  is  dedi- 
cat^Tl,  as  pre-eminently  worthy  of  imitation. 

"  For  your  further  encouragement,"  he  says,  "  I  will 
here  relate  a  very  remarkable  instance  of  patient  dili- 
gence and  indomitable  perseverance  : 

"  In  the  year  1827,  after  I  had  returned  to  Charleston 
from  Scotland,  and  my  classes  were  going  on,  a  very 
respectable  lawyer  came  to  my  school,  I  think  some 
time  in  the  month  of  October,  with  a  youth  apparently 
about  sixteen,  or  perliaps  not  so  much  (14:),  of  middl3 
size,  graceful  in  mani-ors,  rather  slender,  but  well 
formed,  and  upon  the  whole  what  I  should  call  hand- 
some ;  of  a  keen,  piercing  eye,  and  a  noble  forehead, 
seemingly  the  very  seat  of  genius.  The  gentleman  stated 
that  he  found  him  given  to  study,  that  he  had  been 
about  three  weeks  learning  the  Latin  rudiments,  and 
(hoping,  I  suppose,  to  turn  the  youth's  attention  from  the 
law  to  the"  ministry)  had  resolved  to  place  him  under 
my  care  for  the  purpose  of  learning  Greek,  Latin,  and 
Mathematics,  sufficient  to  enter  Charleston  College.  I 
very  gladly  received  him,  for  I  immediately  perceived 
he  was  no  common  3'ourh,  as  intelligence  beamed  in  his 
dark  eye,  and  shone  brightly  on  his  countenance,  indi- 
cating great  ability,  and  an  assurance  of  his  future  pro* 
gross.  I  at  once  put  him  in  the  highest  class,  just 
beginning  to  read  Caesar's  Commentaries,  and  although 
at  lirst  inferior,  his  prodigious  memory  and  enthusiastic 


lEMONT. 


5  profession  at 
to  an  excel lerc 
nabasis  w;ii(  h 
i  ago.  In  the 
itelleetual  and 
lis  cliarge,  and 
■  book  is  dedi- 
•n. 

savs,  "I  will 
'  patient  dili^ 

to  Charleston 
^  on,  a  very 
think  some 
1  apparently 
0>  of  middb 
r,    but    well 
i  call  hand- 
le foreJiead, 
[eman  stated 
e  had  been 
Iments,  and 
ion  from  the 
him  nnder 
I^Jitin,  and 
College.     I 
*'  perceived 
mied  in  his 
lance,  indi- 
future  pro- 
class,  just 
1  althou  jfh 
uthusiastic 


r- 


1    t 
'i    i 


i 


(•<ll..     ri;i;MliNl"S     KMAMI'MI.M,     A  CK  IM  I'A  N  I  KH    P.Y    III 

THK    nii:<I.NT    SI  IK    '>!•     I.Kt  IIM  I' Ti:,    IN     KANSAS. 


S     WIIK       MI;S.     .IKSSIK    KKKMOST,    N  K  MI 


If  ;ii 


BTR7H,    PARENTAGE,    AND    EDUCATION. 


25 


•^Y^ 


.  JTi 


.-■<o 


^ 


S^^^. 


.n;SSIK    KUKMONI',    MOU; 


1 


I 

■•a 


fipplication  soon  enabled  liim  to  surpass  tlio  best.  Tie 
l)i'gan  Greek  at-  the  same  time  and  read  with  some  wi>o 
had  been  long  at  it,  in  which  he  also  soon  excelled.  In 
sliort,  in  the  space  of  one  year  he  had  with  the  class, 
and  at  odd  hoiu's  he  had  with  nijself,  read  four  boohs  of 
Caisar,  Cornelius  Xepos,  Sallust,  six  books  of  Yirgil, 
nearly  all  Horace,  and  two  books  of  Livy  ;  and  in  Greek, 
all  Grteca  Minora,  abont  the  half  of  the  first  volume  of 
GrtEca  Majora,  and  four  books  of  Homer's  Tliad.  xVnd 
whatever  he  read,  lie  retained.  It  seemed  to  me,  in 
fact,  as  if  he  learned  by  mere  intuition.  I  was  myself 
utterly  astonished,  and  at  the  same  time  delighted  with 
his  progress.  I  have  hinted  that  he  was  designed  for 
the  church,  but  when  I  contemplated  his  bold,  fearless 
dis])osition,  his  powtjful  inventive  genius,  his  admiration 
of  warlike  exploits,  and  his  love  of  heroic  and  adventurous 
deeds,  I  did  not  think  it  likelv  he  would  be  a  minister  of 
the  Gospel.  He  had  not,  however,  the  least  appearanco 
of  any  vice  whatever.  On  the  contrary,  he  was  always 
the  very  pattern  of  virtue  and  modesty.  I  could  net 
help  loving  him,  so  much  did  he  captivate  me  by  his 
gentlemanly  conduct  and  extraordinary  progress.  It 
was  easy  to  see  tiiat  he  would  one  day  raise  himself 
to  eminence.  Whilst  under  my  instruction,  I  discovered 
his  early  genius  for  poetic  composition  in  the  following 
manner.  When  the  Greek  class  read  the  account  that 
Herodotus  c'ives  of  the  battle  of  Marathon,  the  braveiT 
of  Miltiades  and  his  ten  thousand  Greeks  raised  his 
patriotic  feelings  to  enthusiasm,  and  drew  from  him 
expressions  which  I  thought  were  ei. .bodied,  in  a  few 
davs  afterward,  in  some  well-written  verses  in  a  Charles- 
ton  paper,  on  that  far-famed,  unequal  but  successful  con- 
flict against  tyranny  and  oppression;  and  suspecting  ray 

2 


:( 


^*'  i 


• 


'  1 1 


..-i 


26 


LIFE    AND   SERVICES    OF   JOHN    C.    FREMONT. 


Uitcnted  scholar  to  be  the  aiithor,  I  went  to  his  desk,'and 
asked  him  if  lie  did  not  write  them  ;  and  hesitatin<]j  at 
lirst,  ruther  bluishinglj,  lie  confessed  he  did.  I  then 
said,  '  1  knew  you  could  do  such  thin^^s,  and  I  suppose 
you  have  some  such  pieces  by  you,  which  I  should  like 
to  see.  Do  bring  them  to  me.'  He  consented,  and  in  a 
day  or  two  brought  me  a  number,  which  1  read  with 
pleasure  and  admiration  at  the  strong  marks  of  genius 
stamped  on  all,  but  here  and  there  requiring,  as  I 
thought,  a  very  slight  amendment. 

"  I  had  hired  a  mathematician  to  teach  both  him  and 
myself  (for  I  could  not  then  teach  tluit  science),  and  in 
this  he  also  made  such  wonderful  progress,  that  at  the 
end  of  one  year  he  entered  the  Junior  Class  in  Charles- 
ton College  triumphantly,  while  others  who  had  been 
studying  for  years  and  more,  were  obliged  to  take  the 
Sophomore  Class.  About  tlie  end  of  the  year  1828  I  left 
Charleston,  but  I  heard  that  he  hi<jrhlv  distin<T;uislied 
himself,  and  graduated  in  1830.  After  that  he  taught 
mathematics  for  some  time.  His  career  afterwards  has 
been  one  of  heroic  adventure,  of  hair-breadth  escapes  l)y 
flood  and  field,  and  of  scientific  explorations,  which 
have  made  him  world-wide  renowned.  In  a  letter  I 
received  from  hitn  very  lately,  he  expresses  his  grati- 
tude to  me  in  the  following  words  :  '  /  am  very  far 
from  either  forgetting  you  or  negJecting  you^  or  in  any 
way  losing  the  old  regard  I  had  for  you.  There  is  no 
time  to  which  I  go  hack  with  riore  pleasure  than  that 
sjpent  with  you,  for  there  was  no  time  so  thoroughly  well 
spent,  and  of  anything  I  may  hace  learned,  I  reraemher 
nothing  so  icell,  and  so  distinctly,  as  tvhat  I  acquired 
%oith  you.''  Here  I  cannot  help  saying  that  the  merit 
was  almost  all  his  own.  It  is  true  that  I  enc"t)ura£»:ed 
and  cheered  him  on,  but  if  the  soil  into  which  I  put  the 


[ONT. 


BIRTH,    PARENTAGE,    AND   EDUCATION. 


27 


lis  desk,'and 
hesitating  at 
lid.  I  tluMi 
id  I  suppose 
[  sliould  like 
ted,  and  in  a 
I  read  with 
IvS  of  genius 
nii'ing,   as    I 

oth  him  and 
}nce),  and  in 
3,  that  at  the 
8  in  Charles- 
10  had  been 
I  to  take  the 
^r  1828  I  left 
stinsjuislied 
at  he  taught 
erwards  has 
escapes  l)y 
ions,  which 
11  a  letter  I 
s  his  grati- 
m  very  far 
u,  or  in  any 
There  is  no 
than  that 
oughly  well 
reraemher 
I  acquired 
:  the  merit 
nct)iiraged 
|h  I  put  the 


i 


I 


seeds  of  learning  liad  not  been  of  the  richest  quality, 
they  would  never  have  sprung  up  to  a  hundred  fold  in 
the  full  ear.  Such,  my  young  friends,  is  but  an  imper- 
fect sketcli  of  my  once  beloved  and  favorite  pupil,  now 
a  senator,  and  -who  may  yet  rise  to  be  at  the  head  of 
this  great  and  growing  I.. ^public.  My  prayer  is  that  ho 
may  ever  be  opposed  to  v.-ar,  injustice  and  oppression 
of  every  kind,  a  blessing  to  his  country  and  an  example 
of  every  noble  virtue  to  the  whole  world." 

At  the  aice  of  sixteen  voun^  Fremont  was  "  con- 
firmed  "in  the  Protestant  Episcopal  Church,  in  which 
faith  his  mother,  who  was  a  Protestant,  had  educated 
her  children,  and  in  which  faith  alibis  own  children  have 
been  baptized.*  About  this  time  lie  became  acquainted 

•  Colonel  Fremont's  religion  having  become  the  auhject  of  some  discus 
Bion,  it  may  not  be  impropci'  to  give  in  this  connection  tlie  following  cer- 
tificate of  the  baptism  of  his  children,  from  the  rector  of  the  Oliurch  of 
the  Epiphany  at  Washington  City,  showing  thitt  they  wene  all  baptized 
in  the  Episcopal  Churcli. 

"  Washinoton  Citt,  Jidy  12, 1356. 
"The  following  children  of  .T.  Charles  and  Jessie  Benton  Fremont  have 
been  baptized  in  the  church  of  the  parish  of  the  Epiphany,  Washington, 
B.C. — their  baptisms  being  recorded  in  the  register  of  said  pariiiii : 
"  1848,  Aug.  15,  Elizabeth  McDowell  Benton  Fremont. 
•'  1848,  Aug.  15,  Benton  Fremont. 
"  1853,  Dec.  28,  John  Charles  Fremont. 
"1855,  Aug.  1,  Francis  Preston  Fremont. 

"  As  none  were  baptized  iii  a  house,  hut  all  wer^  brnurjM  to  the  churchy 
the  order  of  the  Protestant  Episcopal  Chvirch  for  '  the  Ministration  of 
Poblic  Da-ptism  of  Infants,'  was  tha-t  which  was  u.sed. 

"  J.  W.  French, 
^'■Rector  of  the  parish  of  the  Epiphany,  Washington,  D.  O. 

Among  the  sponsors  of  the.se  children  were   Col.  Benton,  Kit  Carson, 
Copt.  Lee.  U.S.N. ,  Francis  P.  Blair  and  Col.  Fremont  himself. 


28 


LIFE    AND    SKRVICKS   OF  JOHN    C.    FREMONT. 


' 


with  a  young  AVost  Indian  girl,  whoso  raven  hair  and 
Bot't  bhick  eves  interfered  sadly  with  his  stwlies.  He 
Mas  absent  for  davs  toijetlier  from  the  colk»<]re,  and 
repeatedly  arraigned  and  repiimanded  by  the  faculty, 
but  to  no  purpose.  Taking  counsel  of  his  heart,  and  not 
of  liis  head,  he  set  college  rules  at  detiancc.  The  faculty 
bore  with  him  fi>r  a  long  tune  on  account  of  his  high 
standing  in  his  studies,  good  scholarshij),  and  abundant 
promise;  but  at  length,  irritated  with  his  insubordina- 
tion and  bad  example,  for  which  no  explanation  was 
given,  they  expelled  him  from  the  college. 

His  application,  though  interrupted,  had  been  vigor- 
ous while  it  lasted,  and  his  acquirements,  especially  in 
mathematics,  had  been  remarkable.  After  this  abrupt 
and  perhaps  unfortunate  termiration  of  his  collegiate 
career,  he  engaged  in  teaching  mathematics,  principally 
to  senior  classes  in  different  schools,  and  also  took  charge 
of  the  "  Apprentices'  Library,"  an  evening  school  under 
a  board  of  directors,  of  which  Dr.  Joseph  Johnston  was 
president.  But  his  career  as  an  instructor  was  destined 
soon  to  be  interrupted  by  a  succession  of  domestic  calam- 
ities which  exerted  an  important  influence  upon  his 
character.  It  was  about  this  time  that  the  death  of  his 
sister,  then  in  her  seventeenth  year,  occurred.  Ilis  bro- 
ther, who  possessed  an  ardent  and  enthusiastic  tempera- 
ment and  unusual  ability,  when  but  fifteen  years  of  age, 
in  consequence  of  an  association  with  amateur  players, 
had  his  taste  turned  to  the  stage,  on  wdiich  he  imagined 
that  fame  and  fortune  are  of  easy  acquisition.  With 
these  ideas,  full  of  the  generous  impulses  which  belonged 
to  his  age  and  character,  he  suddenly,  and  without  con- 
Bulting  his  family,  left  his  home  to  work  out  his  fortune 
for  himself. 

His  brief  life  g;ive  little  apace  for  the  "^tnploymeid  of 


iiil 


EMONT. 

a  veil  liair  and 

sfndies.     "■'le 

college,  and 

y  tlie  faculty, 

lieart,  and  not 

).  The  faculty 

)t  of  his  hiijii 

ind  abundant 

insubordina- 

»lanation  was 

I  been  vfgor- 
especially  in 
'  this  abrupt 
lis  collegiate 
s,  principally 
)  took  charge 
school  under 
ohnston  was 
«'as  destined 
lestic  calam- 
ce  upon  his 
death  of  his 
1.     His  bro- 
tic  tetnpera- 
ears  of  age, 
3ur  players, 
le  imagined 
ion.     With 
ih  belonged 
>  ithout  con- 
his  fortune 


BIRTH,    PARENTAGE,    AND   EDUCATION.  29 

energies  which  might  have  realized  his  youthful  expec- 
tat.ons  A  few  years  after  this  an  injury  received  at  a 
not  ,n  Lutfalo  permanently  affected  his  health,  and  he 
returned  to  Ins  mother  and  died  in  Charleston,  when  he 
was  little  more  than  twenty  years  old 

The  death  of  his  sister  and  the  departure  of  his  bro- 
her  made  a  harsh  inroad  on  the  domestic  quiet  of  his 
family,  and  gave  a  sudden  check  to  the  careless  and  un- 
reflecting l.abits  which  had  hitherto  marked  the  conduct 
of  the  youthful  Fremont. 

He  now  awoke  to  the  sober  interests  of  life,  as  circum- 
stances brought  him  into  ruder  contact  with  them,  and 
he  devoted  himself  to  earnest  labor,  which,  since  hen, 
has  never  been  intermitted.  ' 


ovment  of 


80 


LIFE   AND   SERVICES   OF   JOHN    0.    FKEMONT. 


CHAPTER    II. 


CHOOSES    III8     PROPi?SRION — MARRIES    JESSIE    BENTON. 


In  1833,  the  sloop  of  war  Natchez  entered  the  port 
of  Cliarleston  to  enforce  Gen.  Jackson's  proclamation 
against  the  Nnllifiers.  Being  thence  ordered  on  a 
cruise  to  South  America,  Fremont,  tlien  just  twenty 
years  of  age,  obtained  through  the  Secretary  of  the 
Navy,  Mr.  Poinsett,  the  post  of  teacher  of  mathematics, 
and  made  in  her,  in  tliat  capacity,  a  cruise  of  some  two 
and  a  half  years'  duration.  Siiortly  after  his  return  to 
Charleston,  he  received  from  the  college,  which  had 
once  expelled  him — Dr.  Adams  being  still  its  President 
— the  degrees  of  Bachelor  and  Master  of  Arts. 

A  law  had  in  the  meantime  been  enacted  creating 
Professorshii^s  of  Mathematics  in  the  Navy,  and  Fre- 
mont was  one  of  a  few  among  many  candidates  who 
successfully  passed  a  rigorous  examination  before  a 
board  convened  for  this  purpose  at  Baltimore,  and  was 
appointed  to  the  frigate  Independence,  But  he  liad  in 
the  meantime  decided  to  labor  in  a  profession  which 
offered  a  lai'ger  field  to  energy  and  promised  greater 
rewards,  and  for  which  his  studies  had  particularly 
qualified  him.     He  made  his  first  essay  as  surveyor  and 


>NT. 


CH008E8   Uhi   I'K'  KK8SIUN — MAKUIE8   JKSSIi:   BENTON.    81 


BENTON. 

d  the  port 

oclamation 

ered   on   a 

ist  twenty 

iiy  of  the 

ithematics, 

some  two 

return  to 

hich  had 

President 

creating 

and  Fre- 

ates  who 

before   a 

!,  and  was 

le  liad  in 

on  wliicli 

greater 

rticularly 

^eyor  and 


i 


i 


I 


railroad  engineer  in  an  examination  for  an  improve- 
ment of  the  railway  line  between  Charleston  and 
Augusta.* 

About  this  time  a  corps  of  engineers  was  organized 
under  the  direction  of  Capt.  G.  W.  Williams,  of  the 
United  States  Topograi)hical  Engineers  (killed  in  tlie 
battle  of  Monterey),  and  Gen.  W.  G.  McNeill,  lor  the 
])urpose  of  making  a  preliminary  survey  of  a  route  for 
a  railway  line  from  Charleston  to  Cincinnati,  and  Fre- 
mont was  appointed  one  of  the  assistant  engineers, 
charged  with  the  exploration  of  the  mountf.in  passes 
between  South  Carolina  and  Teimessf^e,  wliere  ho 
remained  until  the  work  was  suspended  in  the  full  of 
1837. 

The  parties  engaged  in  this  work  occasionally  stopped 
at  the  farm  houses  scattered  through  the  mountains,  but 
more  frequently  lived  in  camp,  being  provided  with 
tents  and  all  the  necessary  equipage  for  a  camp  life,  of 
which  this  was  Fremont's  first  experience.  It  was  a 
country  well  calculated  to  make  such  first  impressi<ms 
durable  and  attractive — rough  and  wild,  and  abounding 
in  those  natural  beauties  which  make  the  summer  in 
that  region  particularly  delightful. 

He  renuiined  here  until  the  suspension  of  the  work. 
Capt.  Williams  being  then  ordered  to  make  a  military 
reconnoissance  of  the  mountainous  country  compre- 
hending portions  of  the  States  of  Georgia,  Norrh  Cai'O- 
lina  and  Tennessee,  occupied  at  this  time  by  the  Cherokee 
Indians,  Fremont  accompanied  him  as  cue  of  his  assist- 
ants.    This  was  a  winter  survev — made  hurriedlv,  in 

*In  after  years,  when  the  result  of  a  court-martial  had  deprived  Fre« 
incut  of  his  commission  in  the  army,  he  was  ofiered  the  presidency  of 
this  railroad,  with  a  salary  of  $5,000. 


LIFE    AND   SltUVICKS   OF   JOUN    C.    FKIOIONT. 

pation  of  hostilities  nlroady  tlireixtoniiit^  with  the 

j — Miul    tlie   Hurveyoi'i   at  times  M'ere  occupietl, 

•jjuide  only,  in  iuakiii*j^  raj)i(l  reconnnissaiices  on 

bade,   and    at    other    times    in    slower  operations, 

a  party  of  eight  or  ten  men,  with  paek  mules  to 

their  tents  and  j)rovisions ;  it  being  a  forest  eoun- 

:irsely  occupied  by  Indian  farms.     At  night  they 

trees,    anil    made    large   llres    of  hickory   logs, 

d  wliich  the  panther's  cry  was  occasionally  heard, 

owls  hooted  from  the  hemlocks.     This  was  the  first 

enco  of  a  winter's  cam[)aign  to  one  destined  to  go 

e   verii'e  of  human   endurance   in   similar   scenes. 

this  work,  in  the  spring,  he  went  directly  to  tho 


Mississippi,  whence  he  set  out  on  an  exi)lorin 
ition   over  tho  northwestern   prairies,   under  the 
and  of  J.  N.  Nicollet. 
Kicollet  was  a  French  c:entlcman  of  distinction,  a 


member  of  the  Academy  of  Sciences,  eminently  distin- 
guished for  varied  and  extraordinary  ability  and  for  his 
scientitic  attainments,  "whose  earlv  death,"  savs  Hum- 
boldt  in  his  Anj^ccts  of  Nature^  "  deprived  science  of 
one  of  her  brightest  ornaments."  As  a  geographer,  our 
northwestern  country  had  for  him  a  peculiar  interest. 
It  had  been  the  field  in  which  the  earlier  French  disco- 
verers and  Catholic  missionaries  had  labored,  and  :t  had 
been  one  of  his  most  cherished  wishes  to  visit  the  scenes 
of  their  lal)ors  and  to  draw  together  the  scattered  mate- 
rials of  a  history  wliich  he  thought  redounded  to  the 
honor  of  his  countrymen.  "With  these  views,  and  in 
the  interest  of  geography,  he  had  recently  made  an 
extended  journey  around  the  sources  of  the  Mississippi, 
the  map  and  materials  of  which  had  been  ado])ted  by  our 
government,  and  he  had  been  commissioned  to  make  an 


WONT. 

Ill,'  with  the 
ro  occiipiuti, 
oissjuici's  on 
'  o])i'ratioiis, 
fk  imilea  to 
ibr(\st  coil  11- 
■  iii«!;lit  tlwy 
ckoi'v   loffs, 
luilly  heard, 
^as  the  h'rst 
■^tilled  to  (fo 
Ihir   scones, 
^^ctly  to  tho 
ti  exploring 
under  the 

ptinction,  a 

itly  distin- 

aiid  I'or  his 

'ays  Iliim- 

i^cience  of 

apher,  our 

1*  interest. 

nch  disco- 

md  ;t  Inid 

he  scenes 

■ed  niate- 

d  to  the 

,  and  in 

iiade  an 

ssis^ippij 

'd  by  our 
make  an 


! 

I 


I 


CHOOSES    niS    PROrT.flSION — MARRIFfl   .TKSSin   HKNTON.    33 

examination  of  our  almost  nnoxplorcd  nortlnvcstcrn 
rc^Mon  in  continuation  of  iiis  own  labor:*. 

JMr.  J'oinsett,  tlicn  Secretary  of  War,  romomhered 
I'Vcniont  as  a  suitable  person  to  co-operate  in  his  work, 
and  procured  for  him  tlie  appointment  of  jirincipal  assis- 
tiint,  in  wliicli  capacity  lie  accompanied  M.  MicoHet. 
dining  tlie  years  '38,  and  '30,  in  two  separate  exph)ra- 
tioiis  of  the  greater  part  of  tlie  region  lying  between  tho 
^Missouri  and  the  Upj)er  Rivers,  and  extending  n  n  i  to 
the  Jiritish  line.  During  his  absence,  in  '38,  Fremont 
was  api)ointod  by  Mr.  Van  Huron  a  second-lieuttmant  in 
the  corps  of  topogra]>hical  engineers  which  had  been 
re-organized  by  General  Jackson,  who  provided  that 
half  of  the  corps  should  ho  taken  frc<m  the  civil  service. 
Fremont  was  one  of  tho  first  who  profited  by  this  pro- 
vision. After  the  return  of  these  expeditions,  more  than 
a  year  was  occupied  in  the  reduction  of  their  materials, 
with  a  map  and  report  in  illustration  of  them ;  and  dur- 
inj:  this  time  Fremont  resided  with  M.  NicoiioL  and  Mr. 
Ilassler,  then  tho  head  of  tho  coast  survey.  In  the 
familiar  society  and  conversations  of  these  two  remarka- 
ble men  ho  enjoyed  the  rare  opportunity  of  a  daily  asso- 
ciation with  science  in  her  most  attractive  guise.  They 
were  not  men  who  had  worked  hiboriously  up,  branch 
by  branch,  to  obtain  an  incomplete  knowledge  of  sci- 
ence ;  their  genius  had  spread  out  its  fields  distinctly 
before  them,  and  tlioy  had  surveyed  them  from  an  emi- 
nence. They  had  invented  now  forms  for  the  easier 
expression  of  scientific  results,  and  new  instrumentci  to 
extend  and  ajiply  them. 

The  natural  result  of  such  an  intercourse  was  to  srive 
liim  confidence  in  his  resources,  and  to  inspire  him  with 
those  enlarged  views  which  have  distinguished  his  sub- 

2* 


itf-^i-   «^4. 


I     I 


I    1 


I 

I 


I  ! 


84: 


LIFE    AND   SEIiVICES   OF   JOHN   C.    IREMONT. 


sequent  career,  and  secured  for  liim  flattering  attentions 
froui  the  most  eminent  pliilosopliers  of  his  age. 

Among  the  friendly  and  social  relations  formed  at  this 
time,  wliich,  perhaps,  more  than  any  other,  influenced 
his  future  life,  by  identif}ing  him  most  directly  with  tlie 
interests  of  the  West,  was  his  intimacy  with  the  family 
of  Mr.  Benton,  then  senator  from  Missouri  in  whose 
second  daughter,  Jessie,  then  only  fifteen,  he  became 
deeply  interested.  His  suit  was  favorably  entertained 
by  the  daughter,  but  not  so  by  her  parents. 

To  the  marriage  of  their  daughter  with  an  ofticer, 
both  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Benton  were  decidedly  opposed. 
Mr.  Benton,  because,  in  his  judgment,  the  army 
was  not  a  2^i*ofession,  only  a  salary  during  lifetime, 
throwing  the  widow  upon  the  War  Department,  to  which 
Mrs.  Benton  added  the  farther  objection  of  her  daugh- 
ter's extreme  youth.  Both  had  the  highest  personal 
regard  for  Mr.  Fremont,  whom  they  had  known  well 
during  the  two  winters  previous,  and  but  for  these  rea- 
sons, the  marriage  would  have  been,  what  it  afterwards 
became,  one  entirely  agreeable  to  them  in  every 
respect. 

During  the  summer  of  184:1,  and  while  the  poor  young 
oflScer  was  struggling  as  best  he  might  with  the  obsta- 
cles which  his  suit  had  encountered,  he  received  a  mys- 
terious  but  inexorable  order  to  make  an  examination  of 
the  river  Des  Moines,  upon  the  banks  of  which  the  Sacs 
and  Fox  Indians  still  had  their  homes,  Iowa  being  at 
that  time  a  frontier  country.  He  sat  out  to  the  discharge 
of  this  duty  with  such  spirits  as  he  could  command, 
finished  it,  and  returned  to  Washington,  v/hen  shortly 
after  his  return,  and  on  the  19th  October,  1841,  the 
impatient  lovers  were  married. 


MONT. 


FIRST   EXPLORING   EXPEDITION. 


85 


"g  attentions 


age. 


n-med  at  this 
1",  influenced 
ctlj  with  the 
li  the  family 
ri  in  whose 
he  became 
entertained 

an  officer, 
ly  opposed. 

the  army 
ig  lifetime, 
it,  to  wliich 
her  daugh- 
st  personal 
nown  well 

these  rea- 
afterwards 

in    every 

oor  younfir 
he  obsta- 

ed  a  mys- 

nation  of 
the  Sacs 

being  at 
ischargfe 

)nimand, 

I  shortly 

S41,  the 


: 


i 


CHAPTER    III. 

FIRST  EXPLORING  EXPEDITION EXPLORES  THE  SOUTH  PASS 

PLANTS    THE    AMERICAN   FLAG    ON   THE    HIGHEST    PEAK   OF 
THE   ROCKY   MOUNTAINS — SPEECH   OF   SENATOR   LINN. 

The  knowledge  already  acquired  by  Fremont  of  our 
northwestern  territories  was  sufficient  to  reveal  to  him  the 
utter  ignorance  upon  the  whole  subject  which  prevailed 
generally  among  his  countrymen.  He  discovered  that 
pretty  much  all  that  was  known  about  them  was  made 
up  of  travellers'  tales  over  their  camp-fires  about  fab- 
ulous rivers  and  mountains  and  lakes,  which  never  had 
any  existence  except  in  the  imagination  of  these  fron- 
tier raconteurs  and  their  too  credulous  listeners.  As 
late  as  1846,  one  of  the  earlier  editions  of  a  general 
map  of  tlie  United  States  for  the  year  in  the  Congres- 
sional library  at  Washington,  regarded  and  quoted  as 
an  authority  on  the  Oregon  question  that  year,  even  by 
the  President  himself,  with  entire  confidence,  repre- 
sented the  great  Salt  Lake  as  discharging  itself  by 
three  great  rivers  into  the  Pacific  ocean — from  its 
snutliern  extremities  into  the  Gulf  of  California — from 
its  westf^ni  side  through  the  S-ierra  Nevada  range  into 
the  bay  of  San  Francisco,  and  from  its  western  extremity 
into  the  embouchure  of  the  Columbia  river.*    In  his 

*Hvimboldt,  in  his  Aspects  of  Nature  y  p.  50,  says:  "The  physical  and 


% 


fl 


1 1 
i 
I  111 


,1:1 '!i 


I    !' 


i 


ZQ 


LIFE    A^D   SEIiVlCMS   OF   JOHN    C.    FliKMONT. 


various  explorations  Fremont  Lad  already  not  only- 
disabused  his  mind  of  many  such  absurdities  as  this, 
upon  whicli  public  curiosity  liad  been  fed,  but  he  liad 
also  become  strongly  impressed  both  with  the  feasi- 
Ijility  and  the  necessity  of  an  overland  communication  of 
some  kind  between  the  Atlantic  and  Pacitic  States.  Tiiis 
became  a  leading  idea  with  him  in  his  subsequent 
explorations,  to  which  we  are  about  to  direct  our  read- 
ers' attention,  and  remained  at  all  times  and  in  all  situa- 
tions one  of  his  favorite  dreams. 

It  was  in  184:2  that  his  first  extended  plan  of  geo- 
graphical survey  was  projected,  comprehending  in  its 
design  the  whole  of  our  western  t'^rritories  lying 
between  the  Missouri  and  the  Pacific  ocean.  His  first 
step  was  the  exploration  of  the  northwestern  frontier  of 
the  State  of  Missouri,  terminating  eastwardly  with  the 
Wind  River  peak  of  the  Rocky  Mountains,  upon  the 
highest  of  which,  13,000  feet  above  the  ocean,  he 
succeeded  in  planting  the  American  flag,  and  to  which 
he  has  given  his  name.  Mr.  Benton  informs  us*  that 
when  Lieut.  Fremont  applied  for  this  employment,  Col. 
Abert,  the  chief  of  the  topographical  corps,  gave  him 
an  order  to  go  to  the  frontier,  beyond  the  Mississippi. 
"That  order,"  adds  the  historian,  "did  not  come  up  to 
his  views.  After  receiving  it  he  caiTied  it  back,  and- 
got  it  altered,  and  the  Rocky  Mountains  inserted  as  an 
object  of  his  exploration,  and  the  South  Pass  in  those 

geognostical  views  entertained  respecting  the  western  part  of  Xorth 
America  have  been  rectified,  in  many  respects,  by  the  adventurous 
journey  of  Major  Long,  the  excellent  writings  of  his  companioa,  Edward 
James,  and  more  especially  by  the  comprehensive  observations  of  Captaio 
Fremont." 

*  Benton's  Thirty  Years'  Yiew,  vol.  ii.,  p.  4*78. 


):s-T. 


FIKdT    KXPLOUIXG    i:XPEDITION. 


37 


'  not  only 
ics  as  this, 
>ut  lie  had 

the  feasi- 
lication  of 
ates.  Til  is 
lubseqiient 

our  read- 
ti  all  situa- 


n  of  geo- 
ing  in  its 


S 


•les    Ijin 
His  first 

i'ontier  of 
with  the 

upon  the 

cean,  iie 
0  which 
lis*  that 

ent,  Col. 

ave  him 

ssissipjDi. 

ne  lip  to 

ick,  and 
as  an 

in  tliose 


of  Xorth 
venturous 
1,  Edward 
•f  Captain 


mountains  named  as  a  particular  point  to  be  examined, 
and  its  position  fixed  by  him.  It  was  through  this  pass 
that  the  Oregon  emigration  crossed  the  mountains,  and 
the  exploration  of  Lieut.  Fremont  had  the  double 
eftect  of  fixing  an  important  point  in  the  line  of  the 
emigrants'  travel,  and  giving  them  encouragement  from 
the  apparent  interest  which  the  government  took  in 
their  enterprise.  At  the  same  time,  the  government, 
that  is,  the  executive  administration,  knew  nothing 
about  it.  The  design  was  conceived  by  the  young 
lieutenant;  the  order  for  its  execution  was  obtained, 
upon  solicitation,  from  his  immediate  chief — importing, 
of  course,  as  to  be  done  by  his  order,  but  an  order  which 
had  its  conception  elsewhere." 

Mr.  Fremont  left  Washington,  with  his  instructions, 
on  the  second  day  of  May,  1842 ;  completed  his 
arrangements  at  Choteau's  trading-house,  a  few  miles 
beyond  the  w^estern  boundary  of  the  State  of  Missouri, 
and  set  out  upon  his  expedition  on  the  10th  of  June. 

He  had  collected  in  the  neighborhood  of  St.  Louis 
twenty-one  men,  principally  Creole  and  Canadian 
voyageurs^  who  had  become  familiar  with  prairie  lite  in 
the  service  of  the  fu''  companies  in  the  Indian  country. 
Mr.  Charles  Preuss,  a  native  of  Germany,  was  his 
assistant  in  the  topographical  part  of  the  survey.  L. 
Maxw^ell,  of  Kaskaskia,  had  been  engaged  as  hunter, 
and  Christopher  Carson  (more  familiarly  known,  for  his 
exploits  in  tlie  mountains,  as  Kit  Carson)  was  his  giiide. 
The  persons  engaged  in  St.  Louis  were :  Clement  Lam- 
bert, J.  B.  L'Espevance,  J.  B.  Lefevre,  Benjamin 
Potra,  Louis  Gouin,  J.  B.  Dumes,  Basil  LajounossG, 
Francois  Tessier,  Benjamin  Cadotte,  Joseph  Clement, 
Daniel  Simonds,  Leonard  Benoit,  Michel  Morly,  Bap 


A 


t 


-'il'' 


; 


i 


i 


! 


i 


I 


S8 


LIFE   AND   SERVICK8   OF   JOHN   C.    FRKJIONT. 


tiste  Boriiicr,  Ilonore  Ayot,  Fran9oi8  Latulij^pe,  Fran- 
cois Badean,  Louis  Menard,  Joseph  Iluelle,  Moise 
Cliardoniiais,  Augiiste  Janisse,  llapbael  Prone. 

In  addition  to  these,  Henry  Brant,  son  of  Colonel  J. 
B.  Brant,  of  St.  Louis,  a  young  man  of  niholi'cn  years 
of  age,  and  Randolph,  a  lively  boy  of  twelve,  son  of  the 
Hon.  Thomas  II.  Benton,  accompanied  him.  All  were 
Avell  armed  and  mounted,  with  the  exception  of  eight 
men,  who  conducted  as  many  carts,  in  which  were 
packed  the  stores,  with  the  baggage  and  instruments, 
and  which  were  each  drawn  by  two  mules.  A  few  loose 
horses,  and  four  oxen,  which  had  been  added  to  the 
stock  of  provision-^,  completed  the  train.  The  day  on 
which  they  set  out  happened  to  be  Friday — a  circum- 
stance wliich  his  men  did  not  fail  to  remember  and 
recall  during  the  hardships  and  vexations  of  the  ensuing 
journey. 

For  a  detailed  account  of  the  romantic  incidents  of 
this  expedition,  of  its  hazards,  privations,  and  achieve- 
ments ;  of  its  geographical  and  scientific  results,  which 
have  received  repeated  acknowledgment  from  the  most 
distinguished  sources,  the  reader  is  referred  to  the  official 
report,  of  which  several  editions  have  been  published 
in  addition  to  the  one  printed  by  Congress  for  the  ufee  of 
the  government.  We  shall  content  ourselves  with  a  few 
extracts  which  will  best  serve  to  illustrate  some  ot 
the  more  striking  points  in  Col.  Fremont's  character.  His 
journey  lay  along  the  bed  of  Platte  lliver,  through 
what  has  since  become  famous  as  the  South  Pass,  whicli 
he  first  ex})lorcd  ;  thence  north,  to  the  Wind  Iliver  peiik 
of  the  liocky  Mountains,  which  he  first  ascended,  and 
to  which  he  has  j:iven  his  name ;  and  thence  home  bv 
way  of  the  Loup  fork  of  the  Platte  River.     When  the 


310NT. 


FIRST   EXPLOliING    EXPEDITION. 


39 


ilippe,  Fran. 
nolle,    JVIoj 


ise 

one. 

)f'  Colonel  J. 
iiv.:?cn  years 
e,  son  of  the 
I.     All  were 
ion  of  eight 
which  were 
instruments, 
A  few  loose 
Ided  to  the 
The  day  on 
—a  circum- 
ember  and 
the  ensuing 

icidents  of 
d  achieve- 
ults,  which 
a  the  most 

he  official 

published 

the  nfee  of 

with  a  few 

some  ot 
icter.  His 

through 
iss,  whicli 
iverjjeiik 
kIcmI,  and 
home  bv 
Vhen  the 


^ 


party  arrived  on  their  way  out,  at  Fort  Laramie  on  the 
12th  of  July,  they  found  a  bad  state  of  feeling  had  grown 
up  between  the  Cheyennes  and  Sioux  Indians  on  the  one 
hand,  and  the  whites  on  the  other,  in  consequence  of  an 
unfortunate  engagement  which  had  recently  occurred, 
iu  which  the  Indians  had  lost  eight  or  ten  warriors. 
Some  eight  hundred  Indian  lodges  were  ascertained  to 
be  in  motion  against  tlie  whites,  and  great  alarm  had 
been  inspired  by  the  intelligence  received  of  their  move- 
ments. What  followed,  we  have  thought  of  sufficient  in- 
terest to  quote  at  length  in  Col.  Fremont's  own  words : 

"Thus  it  would  appear  that  the  country  was  swarming  with 
scattered  war-parties  ;  and  when  I  heard,  during  the  day,  the 
various  contradictory  and  exaggerated  rumors  which  were  inces- 
santly repeated  to  them,  I  was  not  su/prised  that  so  much  alarm 
prevailed  among  my  men.  Carson,  one  of  the  best  and  most 
experienced  mountaineers,  fully  supported  the  opinion  given  by 
Bridger  of  the  dangerous  state  of  the  country,  and  openly 
expressed  his  conviction  that  we  could  not  escape  without  some 
sharp  encounters  with  the  Indians,  '^.i  addition  to  this,  he  made 
his  will ;  and  among  the  circumstances  whi(;h  were  constantly 
occurring  to  increase  their  alarm,  this  was  the  most  unfortunate; 
and  I  found  that  a  number  of  my  party  had  become  so  much 
intimidated  that  they  had  requested  to  be  discharged  at  this 
place.  I  dined  to-day  at  Fort  Platte,  which  has  been  mentioned 
as  the  junction  of  Laramie  River  with  the  Nebraska.  Here  I 
heard  a  confirmation  of  the  statements  given  above.  The  party 
of  warriors,  which  had  started  a  few  days  since  on  the  trail  of 
the  emigrants,  was  expected  back  in  fourteen  days,  to  join  the 
village  with  which  their  families  and  the  old  men  had  remained. 
The  arrival  of  the  latter  was  hourly  expected,  and  some  Indians 
had  just  come  in  who  had  left  them  on  the  Laramie  fork,  about 
twenty  miles  above.     Mr.  Bissonette,  one  of  the  traders  belong- 


'« 


s> 


■if 


Ij'i 
il 


i!  • 


ih 


:  il  I 


I     ]ii!<< 


III 


I 


I  iii ! 


JL. 


40 


LIFE   AND   8ERVICK8   OF   JOHN   C.    FREMONT. 


ing  to  Fort  Platte,  urgfed  the  propriety  of  taking  with  ine  an 
interpreter  rthI  two  or  three  old  men  of  the  village  ;  in  which 
case,  he  thouuht  there  would  be  little  or  no  hazard  in  encoun- 
tering any  of  the  war-parties.  The  ])rin('ipal  danger  was  in 
being  attacked  before  they  should  know  who  we  were. 

"  'J'hey  had  a  confused  idea  of  the  numbers  and  power  of  our 
people,  and  dreaded  to  bring  upon  themselves  tlie  military  force 
of  the  United  States.  This  gentleman,  who  spoke  the  language 
llucntly,  offered  his  services  to  accompany  me  so  tar  as  the  Red 
Buttes.  lie  was  desirous  to  join  the  large  party  on  its  return, 
for  purposes  of  trade,  and  it  would  suit  his  views,  as  well  as  my 
own,  to  go  with  us  to  the  Buttes ;  beyond  wtnch  point  it  would 
be  impossible  to  prevail  on  the  Sioux  to  venture,  on  account  of 
their  fear  of  the  Crows.  From  Fort  Laramie  to  the  Red  Buttes, 
by  the  ordinary  road,  is  one  hundred  and  tliirty-five  miles ;  and, 
tliough  only  on  the  threshold  of  danger,  it  seemed  better  to 
secure  the  services  of  an  interpreter  for  the  partial  distance,  than 
to  have  none  at  all. 

"  So  far  as  frequent  interruption  from  the  Indians  would  allow, 
we  occupied  ourselves  in  making  some  astronomical  calculations, 
and  bringing  up  the  general  map  to  this  stage  of  our  journey  ; 
but  the  tent  was  generally  occupied  by  a  succession  of  our  cere- 
monious visitors.  Some  came  for  presents,  and  others  for  infor- 
mation of  our  object  in  coming  to  the  country  ;  now  and  then, 
one  would  dart  uj)  to  the  tent  on  horseback,  jerk  oft"  his  trap- 
pings, and  stand  silently  at  the  door,  holding  his  horse  by  the 
halter,  signifying  his  desii'e  to  trade.  Occasionally  a  savage 
would  stalk  in  with  an  invitation  to  a  feast  of  honor,  a  dog  feast» 
and  deliberately  sit  down  and  wait  quietly  until  I  was  ready  to 
accompany  him.  I  went  to  one  ;  the  women  and  children  were 
sitting  outside  the  lodge,  and  we  took  our  seats  on  buftalo  robes 
spread  around.  The  dog  was  in  a  large  pot  over  the  tire,  in  the 
middle  of  the  lodii-e,  and  immediatelv  on  our  arrival  was  dished 
up  in  lai'ge  wooden  bowls,  one  of  which  was  handed  to  each. 
The  llesh  apj)cared  very  glutinous,  witli  something  of  the  flavor 


[ONT. 

?  with  ine  an 
\ge  ;  in  wliich 
ii'<l  in  oncoiin- 
iiiger  was  in 
ere. 

power  of  our 
military  force 
the  lano-naii^e 
ir  as  the  lied 
on  its  return, 
IS  well  as  my 
oint  it  would 
n  account  of 
Red  Buttes, 
miles;  and, 
sd  better  to 
istance,  than 

vould  allow, 

•alculations, 

ir  journey  ; 

)f  our  cere- 

rs  for  infor- 

V  and  then, 

^"  his  trap- 

>i'se  by  the 

a  sa\age 

dog  feastt 

IS  ready  to 

dren  were 

Halo  robes 

lie,  in  the 

as  dished 

1  to  each. 

the  flavor 


FIRST   EXPLORING   EXPEDITION. 


41 


is 


:i 


and  appearance  of  mutton.  Feeling  sometliing  move  behind  me, 
I  looked  round,  and  found  that  I  had  taken  my  seat  among  a 
litter  of  fat  young  puppies.  Had  I  been  nice  in  such  matters, 
the  prejudice?  of  civilization  might  have  interfered  with  my  tran- 
quillity ;  but  fortunately,  I  am  not  of  delicate  nerves,  and  con- 
tinued to  e»npty  my  platter. 

"  The  weather  was  cloudy  at  evening,  with  a  moderate  south 
wind,  and  the  thermometer,  at  six  o'clock,  85  degrees.  I  was 
ii.sappointed  in  my  hope  of  obtaining  an  observation  of  an 
occultation,  which  took  place  about  midnight.  The  moon 
brought  with  her  heavy  banks  of  clouds,  through  which  she 
scarcely  made  her  appearance  during  the  night. 

"The  morning  of  the  18th  was  cloudy  and  calm,  the  ther- 
mometer, at  six  o'clock,  64  degrees.  About  nine  o'clock,  with  a 
moderate  wind  from  the  west,  a  storm  of  rain  came  on,  accom- 
j)anied  by  sharp  thunder  and  lightning,  which  lasted  about  an 
hour.  During  the  day  the  expected  village  arrived,  consisting 
principally  old  men,  women,  and  children.  They  had  a  considerable 
number  of  horses  and  large  troops  of  dogs.  Their  lodges  were 
pitched  near  the  fort,  and  our  camp  was  constantly  crowded 
with  Indians  of  all  sizes,  from  morning  until  night ;  at  which 
time  some  of  the  soldiers  generally  came  to  drive  them  all  off*  to 
the  village.  My  tent  was  the  only  place  which  they  respected. 
Here  only  came  the  chiefs  and  men  of  distinction,  and  generally 
one  of  them  remained  to  drive  away  the  women  and  chil- 
dren. The  numerous  strange  instruments,  applied  to  still  stranger 
uses,  excited  awe  and  admiration  among  them,  and  those  which 
I  used  in  talking  with  the  sun  and  stars  they  looked  upon  with 
special  reverence,  as  mysterious  things  of  '  great  medicine.'  Of 
the  three  barometers  which  I  had  brought  with  me  thus  far  suc- 
cessfully, 1  fuund  that  two  were  out  of  order,  and  spent  the 
greater  part  of  the  19th  in  repairing  them — an  operation  of  no 
small  dithculty  in  the  midst  of  the  incessant  interruptions  to 
which  I  was  subjected.  We  had  the  misfortune  to  break  here 
a  large  thermometer  graduated  to  show  fifths  of  a  degree,  which 


!      1 


It  1 1 


I' 


r'! 


42 


LIFE    AND    8KRVICE8    OF  JOHN   0.    FRKMONT. 


I  used  to  ascertain  the  temperature  of  boiling  water,  and  with 
which  I  had  promised  myself  some  interesting  experiments  in 
the  mountains.  Wo  had  but  one  remaining,  on  which  the 
graduation  extended  sufficientlj'  high  ;  and  this  was  too  small 
for  exact  observations. 

"  During  our  stay  here,  the  i.'in  had  been  engaged  in  making 
numerous  repairs,  arranging  pack-saddles,  and  otherwise  preparing 
for  the  chances  of  a  rough  road  and  mountain  travel.  All  things 
of  this  nature  being  ready,  I  gathered  them  around  me  in  the 
evening,  and  told  them  that  'I  had  determined  to  proceed  the 
next  day.'  They  were  all  well  armed.  I  had  engaged  the 
service  oi'  Mr.  liissonette  as  interpreter,  and  had  taken  every 
means  possible  in  the  circumstances  to  ensure  our  safety.  In 
the  rumors  we  had  heard,  I  believed  that  there  was  much  exag- 
geration, and  then  they  were  men  accustomed  to  this  kind  of 
life  and  to  the  country  ;  and  that  these  were  the  dangers  of  every 
day  occurrence,  and  to  be  expected  in  the  ordinary  course  of 
their  service.  They  had  heard  of  the  unsettled  condition  of  the 
country  before  leaving  St.  Louis,  and  therefore  could  not  make 
it  a  reason  for  breaking  their  engagements.  Still,  I  was  unwil- 
ling to  take  with  me,  on  a  service  of  some  certain  danger,  men 
on  whom  i  could  not  rely ;  and  as  I  had  understood  that  there 
were  some  among  them  who  were  disposed  to  cowardice,  and 
anxious  to  return,  they  had  but  to  come  forward  at  once,  and 
state  their  desire,  and  they  would  be  discharged  with  the  amount 
due  to  them  for  the  time  they  had  served.  To  their  honor  be  it 
said,  there  was  but  one  among  them  who  had  the  face  to  come 
forward  and  avail  himself  of  the  permission.  I  asked  him  some 
few  questions,  in  order  to  expose  him  to  the  ridicule  of  the  men, 
and  let  him  go.  The  day  after  our  departure,  he  engagetl  him- 
self to  one  of  the  forts,  and  set  oti"  with  a  i)arLy  to  the  Upper 
Missouri. 

"I  did  not  think  that  the  situation  of  the  country  justified  ine 
m  taking  our  young  companions,  Messrs.  Brant  and  l^enton, 
along  with   us.     In   case   of  misfortune,  it  would  have  been 


HKI 


iMONT. 


FIRST   EXPLORING    EXPEDITION. 


43 


tvater,  and  with 
ex])eriinents  in 
on  wliich  the 
Avas  too  small 

ged  in  making 
rwise  preparing 
-el.     All  things 
imd  me  in  the 
;o  proceed  the 
1  engaged  the 
1  taken    every 
iir  safety.     In 
as  much  exaer- 
)  this  kind  of 
ngers  of  every 
ary  course  of 
idition  of  the 
Id  not  make 
I  was  unwil- 
danger,  men 
)d  that  there 
'wardice,  and 
at  once,  and 
the  amount 
honor  be  it 
ace  to  come 
sd  him  some 
of  tlie  men, 
'i;nged  liim- 
the  Up])er 

justified  me 
tid  Benton, 
have  been 


thouirht,  at  the  least,  an  act  of  great  imprudence;  and,  tliercfore, 
thou'di  reluctantly,  I  determined  to  leave  them.  Kaiidolph  had 
been  the  life  of  I'le  camp,  and  iliQ'' petit  (/arfon^  was  much 
recrretted  by  the  men,  to  whom  his  buoyant  spirits  had  atforded 
gnat  amusement.  They  all,  however,  agreed  in  the  i)ropriety 
of  leaving  him  at  the  fort,  because,  as  they  said,  he  might  cost 
the  lives  of  some  of  the  men  in  a  fight  with  the  Indians. 
I  ^''July  21. — A  portion  of  our  baggage,  with  our  Held  notes 
and  observations,  and  several  instruments,  were  left  at  the  fort. 
One  of  the  gentlemen,  Mr.  Galpin,  took  charge  of  a  barometer, 
which  he  engaged  to  observe  during  my  absence  ;  and  I  entrusted 
to  liandolj)h,  by  way  of  occupation,  the  regular  winding  up  of 
two  of  my  chronometers,  which  were  among  the  instruments  left. 
Our  observations  showed  that  the  chronometer  which  I  retained 
for  the  con'anuation  of  our  voyage,  had  preserved  its  rate  in  a  most 
satisfactory  manner.  As  deducHid  from  it,  the  longitude  of  Fort 
Laramie  is  7  hours  01  minutes  21  seconds,  ami  from  lunar  dis- 
tance, 7  hours  01  minutes  29  seconds — giving  for  the  adopted 
longitude  104  degrees  47  minutes  48  seconis.     Comparing  the 

ti  barometical  observation  made  during  our  stay  here,  with  those 
of  Dr.  G.  Engleman,  at  St.  Louis,  we  find  for  the  elevation  of 
the  fort  above  the  Gulf  of  Mexico,  4,470  feet.  The  winter 
climate  here  is  remarkably  mild  for  the  latitude;  but  rainy 
weather  is  frequent,  ami  the  place  is  celebrated  for  winds,  of 
which  the  prevailing  one  is  west.  An  east  wind  in  summer, 
and  a  south  wind  in  winter,  are  said  to  bo  always  accompanied 
with  rain. 

"  We  were  ready  to  depart ;  the  tents  were  struck,  the  mules 
geared  up,  and  our  horses  saddled,  and  we  walked  up  to  the  fort 
to  take  the  t>tirrup-cup  with  our  friends  in  an  excellent  home- 
brewed preparation.     While  thus  pleasantly  engaged,  seated  in 

1  one  of  the  little  cool  chambers,  at  the  door  of  which  a  man  had 
been  stationed  to  prevent  all  intrusion  from  the  Indians,  a  num- 

1  ber  of  chiefs,  several  of  them  powerful,  fine  looking  men,  forced 
their  way  into  the  room  in  spite  of  all  opposition.    Handing  mo 


pi 


,ii; 


44 


LIFE   AND   8KKVICK8   OF  JOHN   C.    FREMONT. 


the    following    letter    ( in    French),    they   took   their   seats  in 
silence : 

[translation.] 

"  Fonx  Vlattk,  Jtilj/  1, 1S42. 
'*'Mu.  Fhemont:  The  chiefs,  having  assembled  in  council,  have  just 
told  ine  to  warn  you  not  to  sot  out  before  the  party  of  younj^  men  which 
irt  now  out  shall  have  returned.  Furthermore,  they  tell  me,  that  they  uro 
Very  s>ire  they  will  fire  upon  you  as  soon  as  they  meet  you.  They  are 
expected  back  in  seven  or  eight  days.  Excuse  me  for  muking  these  ob- 
servations, but  it  seems  my  duty  to  warn  you  of  danger.  Moreover,  the 
chiefs  who  prohibit  your  setting  out  before  the  return  of  the  warriors 
are  the  bearers  of  this  note. 

*"I  am  your  obedient  servant, 

'"Joseph  Bissonettk. 

"  'By  L.  B.  ClIARTRAIN. 

"*iVames  of  some  of  the  Chiefs. — The  Otter  Hat,  the  Breaker  of  Ai*** 
rows,  the  Black  Night,  the  Bull's  Tail.' 

"  After  reading  this,  I  mentioned  its  purport  to  my  compan- 
ions ;  and,  seeing  that  all  were  fully  possessed  of  its  contents,  one 
of  the  Indians  rose  up,  and,  having  first  shaken  hands  with  me, 
spoke  as  follows : 

" '  You  have  come  among  us  at  a  bad  time.  Some  of  our  peo- 
ple have  been  killed,  and  our  young  men,  who  are  gone  to  the 
mountains,  are  eager  to  avenge  the  blood  of  their  relations, 
which  has  been  shed  by  the  whites.  Our  young  men  are  bad, 
and  if  they  meet  you,  they  will  believe  that  you  are  carrying 
goods  and  ammunition  to  their  enemies,  and  will  fire  upon  you. 
You  have  told  us  that  this  will  make  war.  We  know  that  our 
great  father  has  many  soldiers  and  big  guns,  and  we  are  anxious 
to  have  our  lives.  We  love  the  whites,  and  are  desirous  of  peace. 
Thinking  of  all  these  things,  Ave  have  determined  to  keep  you 
here  until  our  warriors  return.  We  are  clad  to  see  vou  aniono" 
us.  Our  father  is  rich,  and  we  expected  that  you  would  have 
brought  presents  to  us — horses,  guns,  and  blankets.  But  we  are 
glad  to  see  you.  \Ve  look  upon  your  coming  as  the  light  which 
goes  before  the  sun ;  for  you  will  tell  our  great  father  that  you 


P   fc 


their   seats  in 


-ATTR,  July  1,  1S42. 

-•ouncil,  have  just 
>'ouii^'  nu'ii  wliich 
inc,  that  they  aro 
you.  Tliey  are 
niiikiijg  these  ob- 
.  Moreover,  the 
^  of  the  warriors 


BrSSONETTK. 
.  ClIARTRAIN. 

Breaker  of  Aiv 


my  compan- 
i  contents,  one 
inds  with  me, 

e  of  our  peo- 
gone  to  the 

V  relations, 
nen  are  bad, 
arc  carrying 

upon  you. 
low  that  our 
are  anxious 
►us  of  peace. 
0  keep  you 
you  finionor 
kvould  Lave 
But  we  are 
ight  which 
3r  that  you 


nnST   EXPLORING    F.XnCDlTION. 


45 


ei 


have  seen  us,  and  that  we  are  naked  and  poor,  and  have  no- 
lliiiii;  to  eat;  and  he  will  send  us  all  tliose  thin<rs.' 

*' lie  was  follosved  hy  the  others,  to  the  same  ellect. 

"The  observations  of  the  savaf>-o  appeared  r<'asonal)lo ;  but  I 
WJis  awaie  that  they  had  iu  view  only  the  present  object  of  de- 
taining nie,  ami  were  unwilling  I  should  go  further  into  tht 
country.  In  reply,  I  asked  them,  through  the  interpretation  of 
Mr.  lioudeau,  to  sele(;t  two  or  three  of  their  number  to  accom- 
p.iny  us  until  we  should  meet  their  people — they  sliould  spread 
tlicii-  robes  in  my  tent  and  eat  at  my  table,  and  on  our  return  I 
would  give  tliem  presents  in  reward  of  their  services.  Tiiey  de- 
clined, savino-  that  there  were  no  vounfj  men  left  in  the  villaijej 
and  that  they  were  too  old  to  travel  so  many  days  on  horseback, 
and  preferred  now  to  smok»i  their  pipes  in  the  lodge,  and  let  the 
warriors  go  on  the  war  path,  liesides,  they  had  no  power  over 
the  young  men,  and  were  afraid  to  interfere  with  them.  In  my 
turn  I  addressed  them  : 

'♦'You  s;iy  that  you  love  the  whites:  why  have  you  killed  so 
many  already  this  spring  ?  You  say  that  you  love  the  whites, 
and  are  full  of  many  expressions  of  friendship  to  us ;  but  you 
are  not  willing  to  unrlergo  the  fatigue  of  a  few  days'  ride  to  save 
our  lives.  We  do  not  believe  wliat  you  have  said,  and  will  not 
listen  to  you.  \Yhate\er  a  chief  among  us  tells  his  soldiers  to 
do,  is  done.  We  are  the  soldiers  of  the  great  chief,  your  father. 
He  has  told  us  to  come  heie  and  see  this  country,  and  all  the 
Indians,  liis  childien.  Why  should  we  not  go  ?  Before  we 
came,  we  heard  that  you  had  killed  his  people,  and  ceased  to  be 
his  children  ;  but  we  came  among  you  peaceably,  holding  out 
our  liands.  Now  we  find  that  the  stories  we  heard  are  not  lies, 
and  that  you  are  no  longer  his  friends  and  children.  We  have 
thrown  away  our  bodies,  and  will  not  turn  back.  When  you  told 
ns  that  your  young  men  would  kill  us,  you  did  not  know  that 
our  hearts  were  strong,  and  you  did  not  see  the  rifles  which  my 
young  men  carry  in  their  hands.  We  are  few,  and  you  are 
many,  and  may  kill  us  all ;  but  there  will  be  much  crying  in 


40 


LIFE   AND   8EKVICK8   OF  JOUN   0.    FUKMONT. 


,1  :; 


.    I  iii '. 


your  villaijos,  for  m.'vny  of  your  young  niou  will  stay  Itoliinij,  and 
for<rt't  to  return  with  your  warriors  from  t!  «  mountains.  Do  you 
think  that  our  great  chief  will  lot  his  soldiers  ilie,  and  forget  to 
cover  their  graves  ?  Before  the  snows  melt  again,  his  warriors 
will  sweep  away  your  villages  as  the  fire  does  the  prairie  in  the 
antumn.  See  !  1  have  pulled  down  my  white  houses^  and  my 
people  are  ready  :  when  tlio  sun  is  ten  paces  higher,  we  shall  be 
on  the  nuirch.     If  you  have  anything  to  tell  us,  you  will  say  it 


soon. 


"  I  broke  up  the  conference,  as  I  could  do  nothing  with  these 
people  ;  and,  being  resolved  to  proceed,  nothing  was  to  be  gained 
by  dehiy.  Accompanied  by  our  hospitable  friends,  we  returned 
to  the  camp.  We  had  mounted  our  horses,  and  our  parting  salu- 
tations had  been  exchanged,  when  one  of  the  chiefs  (the  Hull's 
Tail)  arrived  to  tell  me  that  they  had  determined  to  send  a  young 
man  with  us  ;  and  if  I  would  point  out  the  place  of  our  evening 
camp,  he  should  join  us  there.  'The  young  man  is  poor,'  said  he; 
'he  has  no  horse,  and  expects  you  to  give  him  one.'  I  described 
to  him  the  place  where  I  intended  to  encamp,  and,  shaking 
liaiids,  in  a  few  minutes  we  were  among  the  hills,  and  this  last 
habitation  of  wliites  shut  out  from  our  view." 

They  were  not  disturbed  fartlier  by  the  Indians  in  tho 
prosecution  of  tbeir  journey,  but  they  encountered  a 
more  Ibrniidable  eneinv  toward  the  close  of  the  week, 
in  the  scarcity  of  provisiotis ;  a  groat  drought  and  tlie 
grasshoppers  having  swept  the  country  so,  that  not  a 
blade  of  grass  was  to  be  seen,  nor  a  buftah)  to  be  found 
through  the  whole  region.  Some  Sioux  Indians  whom 
they  met,  stated  that  their  peojde  were  nearly  starved 
to  death ;  had  abandoned  their  villages,  and  their  reced- 
ing tracks  might  be  marked  by  the  carcases  of  horses 
strewed  along  the  road,  of  which  they  had  eaten,  or 
which    had    died   of   starvation.     Bisonnette    advised 


MONT. 

fav  Itoliind,  and 
nt.'iiiis.  Do  voii 
S  ami  (oriTt't  to 
ill,  his  warriors 
u  i>rairio  in  the 
'louses,  and  my 
er,  we  sluill  be 
you  will  say  it 

ino;  with  those 
IS  to  be  ifiiiiicd 
Is,  wo  returned 
r  parti njr  salu- 
L>ts  (the  Bull's 
o  send  a  younc 
)t'  our  evening 
poor,'  said  he ; 
.'  I  described 
and,  shaking 
,  and  this  last 


clians  in  tho 
ountered  a 
f  the  week, 
ht  and  the 
that  not  a 
to  be  found 
ians  whom 
r\y  starved 
heir  reced- 
of  liorses 
eaten,  or 
advised 


1 


FIRST    EXPLORINa    EXPEDITION. 


47 


Fremont,  to  return.  Tho  latter  called  up  hU  men, 
.  inforuHMl  tliem  of  vvliat  lie  had  heard,  and  with  that 
■  inflexibility  of  purpose  and  faith  in  biinscil',  whieli 
alwavfl  seem  in  hours  of  greatest  ])eril  to  have  pur- 
tained  hiin,  avowed  his  lixed  deterniiiuition  to  proeeed 
ill  the  execution  of  the  enterpriso  for  whieh  he  liud  been 
commipsioned,  at  the  same  time  givinf;  them  to  under- 
Btand  that,  in  view  of  the  dani;ers  to  whieh  they  were 
exposed,  it  was  optional  with  them  to  go  with  him 
or  to  I'eturn. 

"  Among  them,"  says  Fremont,  "  were  some  five  or 
six  whon  I  knew  would  remain.  We  had  still  ten  days' 
provisions;  and  should  no  game  be  found,  when  this 
stock  was  expended,  we  had  our  horses  and  mules, 
which  we  could  eat  when  other  means  of  subsistence 
failed.  ]iut  not  a  man  flinched  from  the  midertaking. 
'We'll  eat  the  mules,'  said  Jjasil  Lajeunesse ;  and  there- 
upon we  shook  hands  with  our  interpreter  and  his  Indi- 
ans, and  parted.  Witji  them  I  sent  back  one  of  my  men, 
Dumes,  whom  the  eftects  of  an  old  wound  in  the  leg 
rendered  incapable  of  continuing  the  journey  on  foot, 
and  his  horse  seemed  on  the  point  of  giving  out.  Hav- 
ing resolved  to  disencumber  ourselves  immediately  of 
everviliiuii'  not  absolutelv  necessary  to  our  future  cfjjera- 
tions,  I  turned  directly  in  toward  the  river,  and 
encamped  on  the  left  bank,  a  little  above  the  place 
where  our  council  had  been  held,  and  where  a  thick 
grove  of  willows  offered  a  suitable  spot  for  the  object  I 
had  in  view."     Mr.  Fremont  then  proceeds  as  follows  : 

"Tho  carts  having  been  discharged,  the  covers  and  wheels 
were  taken  off,  and,  with  the  frames,  carried  into  some  low  places 
among  the  willows,  and  concealed  in  the  dense  foliage  in  such  a 


! 


11 


I 

ili: 


^i 


48 


LIFE    AND    SERVICES  OF   JOHN    C.    FREMONT. 


manner  that  tlie  glitter  of  the  iron  work  might  not  attract  the 
observation  of  some  straggling  Indian.  In  the  sand,  which  had 
been  blown  up  into  waves  among  the  willows,  a  large  hole  was 
then  dug,  ten  feet  square,  and  six  deep.  In  the  meantime,  all 
our  effects  had  been  spread  out  upon  the  ground,  and  whatever 
was  designed  to  be  carried  along  with  us  separated  and  laid  aside, 
and  the  remaining  part  carried  to  the  hole  and  carefully  covei-ed 
up.  As  much  as  possible,  all  traces  of  our  proceedings  were 
obliterated,  and  it  wanted  but  a  rain  to  render  our  cache  safe 
beyond  discovery.  All  the  men  were  now  set  at  work  to  arrange 
the  pack-saddles  and  make  up  the  packs. 

"  The  day  was  very  warm  and  calm,  and  the  sky  entirely  clear, 
except  where,  as  usual  along  the  summits  of  the  mountainous 
ridge  opposite,  the  clouds  had  congregated  in  masses.  Our 
lodge  had  been  planted,  and  on  account  of  the  heat  the 
ground  pins  had  been  taken  out,  and  the  lower  part  slightly 
raised.  Near  to  it  was  standing  the  barometer,  which  swung 
in  a  tripod  frame ;  and  within  the  lodge,  where  a  small 
fire  had  been  built,  Mr.  Preuss  was  occupied  in  observing  the 
temperature  of  boiling  water.  At  this  instant,  and  without  any 
■warning  until  it  was  within  fifty  yards,  a  violent  gust  of  wind 
dashed  down  the  lodge,  burying  under  it  Mr.  Preuss  und  about 
a  dozen  men,  who  had  attempted  to  keep  it  from  being  carried 
awav.  I  succeeded  in  savinrj  the  barometer,  which  the  lodo-e 
was  carrving  ofi"  with  itself,  but  the  thermometer  was  broken. 
We  had  no  others  of  a  high  graduation,  none  of  those  which 
remained  going  higher  than  130°  Fahrenheit.  Our  astronomi- 
cal observations  gave  to  this  place,  which  we  named  Cache  camp, 
a  longitude  of  106°  38'  26",  latitude  42°  50'  53"." 

The  care  with  which  Mr.  Fremont  records  the  pre- 
servation of  this  barometer  lends  interest  to  his 
subsequent  account  of  its  destruction  and  the  ingenuity 
with  which  he  repaired  its  loss.  In  crossing  the  New 
Fork  of  Green  river  al)out  a  week  after  the  events  last 


REMONT. 

bt  not  attract  the 
3  sand,  whicli  liad 

a  Jarge  hole  was 
he  meantime,  all 
nd,  and  wliatever 
ed  and  laid  aside, 
carefully  covei-ed 
proceedings  were 
r  our  cache  safe 

work  to  arrange 

ky  entirely  clear, 
he  mountainous 
n   masses.     Our 
the    heat   the 
3r  part  slightly 
r,  which  swung 
where   a   small 
1  observing  the 
nd  without  any 
It  gust  of  wind 
euss  and  about 
I   being  carried 
liich  the  lodge 
er  was  broken, 
of  those  which 
3ur  astronomi- 
id  Cache  camp, 


I'ds  the  pre- 
test to  liis 
le  inffeniiitv 
ig  the  Xew 
■  events  last 


^Mli 


it 
!    I 


1! 


: 


m 


U: 


ill!; 

!i  H . 


nti;.MiiM'  n. A.N  IS  niK  \.mi:hi(an  i  i.A(i  on  nii;  inciii-si  I'KAK  oi-  iiu  i.ik  kv  .moin  i  iI.ns. 


FIEST   EXPLORING   EXPEDITION. 


49 


described,  the  current  was  very  swift,  and  lie  accident- 
ally broke  it.  It  M'as  the  only  barometer  he  had  bee-i 
able  to  preserve  up  to  that  point  in  his  journey,  and  in 
recording  the  calamity  in  his  journal,  he  adds: 


MIIIN  r  il.SS, 


"  A  grecat  part  of  the  interest  of  the  journey  for  me  was  in 
the  exploration  of  these  mountains,  of  which  so  much  had  been 
said  that  was  doubtful  and  contradictory ;  and  now  their  snowy 
]ioaks  rose  majesticall}^  before  me,  and  the  only  means  of  giving 
them  authentically  to  science,  the  object  of  my  anxious  solici- 
tude by  night  and  day,  was  destroyed.  We  liad  brought  this 
barometer  in  safety  a  thousand  miles,  and  broke  it  almost 
amoncf  the  snow  of  the  mountains.  The  loss  was  felt  by  the 
whole  camp — all  had  seen  my  anxiety,  and  aided  me  in  preserv- 
ing it.  The  height  of  these  mountains,  considered  by  the 
hunters  and  traders  the  highest  in  the  whole  rano-e,  had 
been  a  theme  of  constant  discussion  among  them ;  and  all 
had  looked  forward  with  pleasure  to  the  moment  when  the 
instrument,  which  they  believed  to  be  true  as  the  sun,  should 
stand  upon  the  summits,  and  decide  their  disputes.  Their  grief 
was  only  inferior  to  my  own." 

The  skill  and  patience  exhibited  by  him  in  repairing 
his  loss  illustrates  one  of  the  most  characteristic  and 
remarkable  traits  of  Mr.  Fremont's  character — his  fer- 
tility of  resource  and  his  habitual  self-reliance.  The 
incident  cannot  be  better  described  than  in  his  own 
words. 

"As  soon  as  the  camp  was  formed,"  he  says,  "I  set  about 
endeavoring  to  repair  my  barometer.  As  I  have  already  said, 
this  was  a  standard  cistern  barometer,  of  Trouo-hton'a  construe- 
tion.  The  glass  cistern  had  been  broken  about  midwav ;  but  as 
the  instrument  had  been  kept  in  a  proper  position,  no  air  had 


'  1    i  '{. 


LIFE   AND    SERVICES    QF  JOHN    C.    FREMONT. 


found  its  way  into  the  tube,  the  end  of  wliicb  liad  always 
rtMnained  covered.  I  had  Avith  nie  a  number  of  vials  of  toler- 
ably thick  glass,  some  of  wliich  were  of  tlie  same  diameter  as 
llie  cistern,  and  I  spent  the  day  in  slowly  working  on  these, 
cn<loavoring  to  cut  them  of  the  requisite  length ;  but,  as  my 
iii.strument  was  a  very  rougli  file,  I  invariably  broke  them.  A 
groove  was  cut  in  one  of  the  trees,  wliere  the  barometer  was 
})laced  during  the  night,  to  be  out  of  the  way  of  any  possible 
danger,  and  in  the  morning  I  commenced  again.  Among  the 
powder  horns  in  the  camp,  I  found  one  which  was  very  trans- 
parent, so  that  its  contents  could  be  almost  as  plainly  seen  as 
through  glass.  This  I  boiled  and  stretched  on  a  piece  of  wood 
to  the  requisite  diameter,  and  scraped  it  very  thin,  in  order  to 
increase  to  the  utmost  its  transparency.  I  tlien  secured  it 
firmly  in  its  place  on  the  insti'ument,  with  strong  glue  made 
from  a  bufialo,  and  filled  it  with  mercury,  properly  heated.  A 
piece  of  skin,  which  ])ad  covered  one  of  the  vials,  fuinished  a  good 
pocket,  which  was  well  secured  Avilh  strong  thread  and  glue,  and 
then  the  brass  cover  was  screwed  to  its  place.  The  instrument 
was  left  some  time  to  dry;  and  when  I  reversed  it,  a  few  hours 
after,  I  had  the  satisfaction  to  find  it  in  perfect  order;  its  indica- 
tions being  about  the  same  as  on  the  other  side  of  the  lake  before 
it  had  been  broken.  Our  success  in  this  little  incident  difi'used 
pleasure  throughout  the  camp;  and  we  immediately  set  about 
our  preparations  for  ascending  the  mountains." 


I.iiiii'i! 


Tlie  great  achievement  of  this  expedition,  Iiowover,  and 
one  of  the  greatest  ever  accomplished  by  any  traveller 
in  any  age,  all  tlie  circumstances  considered,  was  the 
ascent  of  the  Wind  Eiver  peak  of  the  Hocky  Mountains, 
the  highest  peak  of  that  vast  chain,  and  one  which  was 
probably  never  trod  before  by  any  mortal  foot.  The 
simplicity  of  Mr.  Fremont's  account  of  this  day's  jour- 
ney befits  the  sublimity  of  the  events  he  records.     His 


lONT. 

1   IkkI    always 

vials  of  toler- 

\e  diameter  as 

kinij  on  these, 

, ;  but,  as   my 

oke  them.     A 

.)arometcr  was 

f  any  possible 

.     Among  the 

vas  very  trans- 

[)lainly  seen  as 

piece  of  wood 

in,  in  order  to 

I  en    secured  it 

ng   glr.e  made 

rly  licated.     A 

iruished  a  good 

and  glue,  and 

'he  instrument 

it,  a  few  hours 

er ;  its  indica- 

le  lake  before 

ident  difi'used 

ely  set  about 


ovvever,  and 
iiy  traveller 
ed,  was  the 
Mountains, 
wliicli  was 
1  foot.  The 
day's  jour- 
cords.     His 


FIRST  EXPLORING  EXPEDITION. 


51 


companions  in  the  ascent  were  Mr.  Preuss,  Basil  Lajeu- 
iR'!?8e,  Clement  Lambert,  Janisse  and  Descoteaux.  We 
can  add  nothing  to  the  interest  or  impressivenesa  of  the 
narrative. 

"When  we  had  secured  strength  for  the  day  (15  Aug.)  by  a 
heiirtv  breakfast,  we  covered  what  remained,  which  was  enough 
for  one  meal,  with  rocks,  in  order  that  it  might  be  safe  from 
{inv  marauding  bird;  and  saddling  our  mules,  turned  our  faces 
on('e  more  towards  the  peaks.  This  time  we  determined  to  pro- 
ceed quietly  and  cautiously,  deliberately  resolved  to  accom])lish  our 
object  if  it  were  within  the  compass  of  human  means.  We  were 
of  opinion  that  a  long  defile  which  lay  to  the  left  of  yesterday's 
route  would  lead  us  to  the  foot  of  the  main  peak.  Our  mules 
had  been  refreshed  by  the  fine  grass  in  the  little  ravine  at  the 
Island  camp,  and  we  intended  to  ride  up  the  defile  as  far  as  pos- 
sible, in  order  to  husband  our  strength  for  the  main  ascent. 
Though  this  was  a  fine  passage,  still  it  was  a  defile  of  the  most 
rugged  mountains  known,  and  we  had  many  a  rough  and  steep 
slippery  place  to  cross  before  reaching  the  end.  In  this  place  the 
sun  rarely  shone  ;  snow  lay  along  the  border  of  the  small  stream 
which  flowed  through  it,  and  occasional  icy  passages  made  the 
footing  of  the  mules  very  insecure,  and  the  rocks  and  ground 
were  moist  with  the  trickling  waters  in  this  spring  of  mighty 
rivers.  AVe  soon  had  the  satisfaction  to  find  ourselves  ridincr 
alonof  the  huge  wall  which  forms  the  central  summits  of  the  chain. 
There  at  last  it  rose  by  our  sides,  a  nearly  perpendicular  wall  of 
granite,  terminating  2,000  to  3,000  feet  above  our  heads 
in  a  serrated  line  of  broken,  jagged  cones.  We  rode  on  until  wo 
came  almost  immediately  below  the  main  peak,  which  I  denomi- 
nated the  Snow  Peak,  as  it  exhibited  more  snow  to  the  eye 
than  anv  of  the  neifjliborino-  summits.  Here  were  three  small 
lakes  of  a  green  color,  each  of  perhaps  a  thousand  yards  in  dia- 
meter, and  apparently  very  deep.  These  lay  in  a  kind  of  chasm ; 
and,  according  to  the  bai'ometer,  we  had  attained  but  a  few  hun- 


52 


LIFE   AND    SERVICES   OF   JOHN   C.    FBEMONT. 


drod  loet  above  tlie  Island  liiko.  The  barometer  here  stood  a 
20*4i")0,  attached  thermometer  V0°. 

"  We  inana^'ed  to  get  our  mules  up  to  a  little  bench  about  a 
lumdred  ieet  above  the  lakes,  and  turned  them  loose  to  graze. 
During  our  rough  ride  to  this  place,  they  luul  exhibited  a  won- 
deri'iil  surefootedness.  Parts  of  the  defile  were  filled  with  angu- 
lar, sharp  fragments  of  rock,  three  or  four  r-nd  eight  or  ten  feet 
cubic ;  and  among  these  they  liad  worked  their  way  leaping 
from  one  narrow  point  to  another,  rarely  making  a  false  step, 
and  giving  us  no  occasion  to  dismount.  Having  divested  our- 
selves of  every  unnecessary  encumbrance,  we  commenced  the 
ascent.  This  time,  like  experienced  travellers,  we  did  not  press 
ourselves,  but  climbed  leisurelv,  sitting  down  so  soon  as  wo  found 
breath  beginning  to  tail.  At  intervals  we  reached  places  where 
a  number  of  spi-ings  gushed  from  the  rocks,  and  about  1,800  feet 
above  the  lakes  came  to  the  snow  line.  From  this  point  our 
progress  Avas  uninterrupted  climbing.  Hitherto  I  had  worn  a 
pair  of  thick  moccasins,  with  soles  of  imvfitche^  but  here  I  put  on 
a  light  thin  pair,  which  1  had  brought  for  the  purpose,  as  now 
the  use  of  our  toes  becanie  necessary  to  a  further  advance.  T 
availed  myself  of  a  sort  of  comb  of  the  mountain,  which  stood 
against  the  wall  like  a  buttress,  and  which  the  wii\d  and  the  solar 
radiation,  joined  to  the  steepness  of  the  smooth  rock,  had  kept 
almost  entirely  free  from  snow.  Up  this  I  made  my  way  rapidly. 
Our  cautious  method  of  advancing  in  the  outset  had  spared  my 
strength  ;  and  with  the  excep^on  of  a  slight  disposition  to  head- 
ache, I  felt  no  remains  of  yesterday's  illness.  In  a  few  minutes 
we  reached  a  point  where  the  buttress  was  overhanging,  and  there 
was  no  other  way  of  surmounting  the  difficulty  than  by  passing 
around  one  side  of  it,  which  was  the  face  of  a  vertical  precipice 
of  several  hundred  feet. 

"Putting  hands  and  feet  in  the  crevices  between  the  blocks,  I 
succeeded  in  getting  over  it,  and,  wd)eu  I  reached  the  top,  found 
my  companions  in  a  small  valley  below.  Descending  to  them, 
wc  continued  cHnibing,  and  in  a  short  time  reached  the  crest. 


MONT. 

r  here  stood  a 

!  bench  about  a 

loose  to  graze. 

liibited  a  woii- 

illed  with  ano'u- 

light  or  ten  feet 

ir  way    leaping 

iiig  a  false  step, 

(r  divested  our- 

L^onimenced  the 

ve  did  not  press 

joon  as  wo  found 

ed  places  where 

about  1,800  feet 

this  point  our 

0  I  had  worn  a 

ut  here  I  put  on 

)urposo,  as  now 

er  advance.     I 

n,  which  stood 

and  the  solar 

ock,  had  kept 

ny  way  rapidly. 

ad  spared  my 

Dsition  to  head- 

a  few  minutes 

ging,  and  there 

lan  by  passing 

rtical  precipice 

n  the  blocks,  I 

the  top,  found 

ding  to  them, 

died  the  crest. 


FIRST   KXPLOEINO   EXPEDmON. 


53 


I  sprano-  upon  the  summit,  and  another  step  would  have  precipi- 
tated me  into  an  immense  snow-lield  tive  hundred  feet  below* 
To  the  edge  of  this  field  was  a  sheer  icy  precipice  ;  and  then, 
with  a  gradual  fall,  the  field  sloped  otf  for  about  a  mile,  until  it 
struck  the  foot  of  another  lower  ridge.  I  stood  on  a  narrow  crest 
about  three  feet  in  width,  witli  an  inclination  of  about  20°  N. 
51°  E.  As  soon  as  I  had  gratified  the  first  feeling  of  curiosity, 
I  descended,  and  each  man  ascended  in  his  turn;  for  I  would 
oulv  allow  one  at  a  time  to  mount  the  unstable  and  precarious 
slab,  which  it  seemed  a  breath  would  hurl  into  the  abyss  below. 
"We  mounted  the  barometer  in  the  snow  of  the  summit,  and  fixing 
a  ramrod  in  a  crevice,  unfurled  the  national  flag  to  wave  in  the 
breeze  where  never  flag  waved  before.  During  our  morning's 
ascent,  we  had  met  no  sign  of  animal  life,  except  the  small  spar- 
row-Hke  bird  already  mentioned.  A  stillness  the  most  profound 
and  a  terrible  solitude  forced  themstilves  constantly  on  the  mind 
as  the  great  features  of  the  place.  Here,  on  the  summit,  where 
the  stillness  was  absolute,  unbroken  by  any  sound,  and  the  solitude 
complete,  we  thought  ourselves  beyond  the  region  of  animated 
life ;  but  while  we  were  sitting  on  the  rock,  a  solitary  bee  {hromus, 
the  humble  bee)  came  winging  his  flight  from  the  eastern  valley, 
lit  on  the  knee  of  one  of  the  men. 

''  It  was  a  strange  place,  the  icy  rock  and  the  highest  peak  of 
the  Rocky  Mountains,  for  a  lover  of  warm  sunshine  and  flowers ; 
a"d  we  pleased  ourselves  with  tlio  idea  that  he  was  the  first  of 
his  species  to  cross  the  mountain  barrier — a  solitary  pioneer  to 
foretell  the  advance  of  civilization.  I  believe  that  a  moment's 
thought  would  have  made  us  let  him  continue  his  way  unharmed  ; 
but  we  carried  out  the  law  of  this  country,  where  all  animated 
nature  seems  at  war ;  and  seizing  liim  immediately,  put  him  in 
at  least  a  fit  place — in  the  leaves  of  a  large  book,  among  the 
flowei's  we  had  collected  on  our  way.  The  barometer  stood  at 
18-293,  the  attached  thermometer  at  44° ;  giving  for  the  eleva- 
tion of  this  summit  13,5'i'O  feet  above  the  Gulf  of  Mexico,  which 
may  be  called  the  highest  flight  of  the  bee.     It  is  certainly  the 


54 


LITE   AND   SERVICE3   OF  JOHN    C.   FREMONT. 


highest  known  flight  of  that  insect.*  From  the  description 
given  by  Mackojizie  of  the  mountains  where  lie  crossed  them, 
wilh  that  of  a  French  ollicer  still  farther  to  the  north,  and  Col. 


i  h  ! 


U   \     if 


■'i 


*Tlic  encounter  of  Col.  Fremont  with  this  solitary  pioneer  of  human 
civiliziition  upon  the  summit  of  the  highest  peak  of  the  Kocky  Mountains, 
is  a  curious  commentary  upon  the  familiar  lines  whirh  eonoludes  I3ryant'8 
poem  of  the  Prairies,  and  which  will  already  have  occurred  to  many  of 
our  readers  upon  the  perusal  of  the  all'ecting  incident  so  gracefully 
recorded  by  Col.  Fremont. 

*  *  •  *  "The  bee, 

A  colonist  more  adventiu'ous  tlian  man, 

With  wlioni  he  ciinie  across  the  Eastern  deep — 

Fills  the  savannas  with  liis  imirniurings, 

And  hides  his  sweets,  as  in  the  Gulden  Age, 

Within  the  hollow  oak.    I  listen  long 

To  his  domestic  hum,  and  think  I  hear 

Tlie  sound  of  that  ailvancinj;  multitude 

Which  soon  shall  fill  these  deserts.    From  the  ground 

Comes  up  the  laugh  of  children,  the  soft  voice 

Of  maidens,  and  the  sweet  and  solemn  hymn 

Of  Sabbath  worshippers.     Tlie  low  of  herds 

Blends  with  the  rustlinf?  of  the  heavy  grain 

Over  the  dark-l)r()wn  furrows.    All  at  once, 

A  fresher  wiml  sweeps  by,  and  breaks  my  dream, 

And  I  am  in  the  wilderness  alone. 

"Fremont,  in  the  expedition  which  he  made  between  the  years  1842 
and  1844,  at  the  command  of  the  United  States  government,  discovered 
and  measured  barometrically  the  highest  peak  of  the  whole  chain  of  the 
Rocky  Mountains  to  the  north-northwest  of  Spani.sh,  James',  Long's, 
and  Laramie's  Peaks.  This  snow-covered  sunnnit,  which  belongs  to  the 
group  of  the  Wind  Kiver  Mountains,  bears  the  name  of  Fremont's  Peak, 
on  the  great  chart  published  under  the  direction  of  Colonel  Abert,  chief 
of  the  topogra])hical  department  at  Washington.  This  point  is  situated 
in  the  parallel  of  4.3^  10'  north  latitude,  and  IIC^  7'  west  longitude,  and, 
therefore,  nearly  5^  30'  north  of  Spanis^h  Peak,  which,  according  to 
direct  measurement,  is  13,508  feet,  must,  therefore,  exceed  by  2,072  feet 
that  given  by  Long  to  James'  Peak,  which  would  appear,  from  its 
position,  to  be  identical  with  Pike's  Peak,  as  given  in  the  map  above 
referred  to.  The  Wind  River  Mountains  constitute  the  dividing  ridge 
{divortia  aquarian)  between  the  two  seas. 

*'  To  the  surprise  of  the  adventurous  travellers,  the  summit  of  Fremont's 


ONT. 


FIRST   EXPLORING    KXPEDITION. 


55 


ic  description 
crossed  tlicin, 
oi'lh,  and  Col. 

sneer  of  human 
3cky  Mountains, 
K'hules  IJryant'8 
red  to  many  of 
t   so   gracefully 


the  years  1842 

ent,  diseovered 

e  chain  of  the 

iimcs',  Long's, 

belongs  to  the 

omont's  Peak, 

el  Abert,  chief 

»lnt  is  situated 

ongitudc,  and, 

according  to 

by  2,072  feet 

)car,   from   its 

le  map  above 

dividing  ridge 


Loiv's  moasurenients  to  the  south,  joitiod  to  the  opinion  of  the 
oldest  tniders  of  the  countty,  it  is  presiitnod  that  this  is  the 
liii^hcst  peak  of  the  Rocky  ^^uunt;liIls.     The  (\;\y  was  sunny  and 

Peak  was  found  to  bo  visited  by  bees.  It  is  proliable  that  (liepc  in>-ocfs, 
like  the  liutterflies  which  I  found  at  far  liiglicr  elevations  in  the  chain 
of  the  Andes,  and  also  within  the  limits  of  perpetual  snows,  had  boon 
iiivohiiitarily  dra-n  thither  by  ascending  currents  of  air.  I  hiivo  v^vcii 
seen  large-v'"^"  .  Icpidoptera,  which  had  been  carried  far  out  to  sea  by 
land  winds,  drop  on  the  ship's  deck,  at  a  considerable  distance  from  the 
land,  in  the  South  Sea. 

''Fremont's  map  and  geographical  researchos  embrace  the  immense 
tract  of  land  extending  from  the  confluence  of  Kansas  Iliver  witli  the 
Missouri,  to  the  cataracts  of  the  Cohiniliia,  and  the  Missions  of  Santa 
Barbara,  and  the  Pueblo  de  los  Angelos,  in  X(^w  California,  ])resonting  a 
sjjace  amounting  to  28  degrees  of  longitude  (about  llJdo  miles)  between 
the  Sith  and  -lotli  parallels  of  north  latitude.  Four  Inuidred  points  have 
been  hypsometrically  determined  by  barometrical  measurtiiionts,  and  for 
the  most  part,  astronomically;  so  that  it  has  been  rendered  ix)ssible  to 
delineate  the  profile  above  the  sea's  level,  of  a  tract  of  land  measuring 
3,600  miles,  with  all  its  inflections,  extending  from  the  north  of  Kansas 
to  Fort  Vancouver,  and  to  the  coasts  of  the  South  Sea  (alnu)st  720  miles 
more  than  the  distance  from  Madrid  to  Tol)olsk),  As  I  believe  I  was 
the  first  who  attempted  to  represent,  in  geognostic  profile,  the  configura- 
tion of  Mexico  and  the  Cordilleras  of  South  Ameri/'a  (for  the  half-per- 
spective projections  of  the  Siberian  traveller,  the  Abbe  Chappe*,  were 
based  on  mere,  and,  for  the  most  part,  on  very  inaccurate  estimates  of 
the  falls  of  rivers);  it  has  aflbrded  me  special  satisfaction  to  there  find 
the  graphical  method  of  representing  the  earth's  configuration  in  a  ver- 
tical direction,  that  is,  the  elevation  of  solid  over  fluid  parts,  achieved  on 
so  vast  a  scale.  In  the  mean  latitudes  of  37^  to  40-",  the  Rocky  Moun- 
tains present,  besides  the  great  snow-crowned  summits,  whose  height 
may  be  compared  to  that  of  the  Peak  of  Tenerille,  elevated  plateaux  of 
an  extent  scarcely  to  be  met  with  in  any  other  part  of  the  world,  and 
whoso  breadtli  from  east  to  west  is  almost  twice  tluit  of  the  Mexican 
highlands.  From  the  range  of  the  niountains  which  begin  a  little  west- 
ward to  Fort  Laramie,  to  the  further  .side  of  the  Wah.<<Htch  Mountains,  the 
elevation  of  the  soil  is  uninterruptedly  maintained  from  five  to  upward^  ";f 
seven  thousand  feet  above  the  .sea  level ;    nay,   this  elevated  portion 


t  of  Fremont's 


♦Chappe  d'Auteroche:  Voyage  en  Siherie,fuil  en  17CI.  4  Yols.,4to.,  Paris,  1768. 


I  I 


■  n 


56 


LIFE    AND   SKKVICKS    OK  AOllS    C.    FRKMONT. 


briglit,  but  a  sli(j;lit  sh'miiiij  mist  liuiii;  ovor  the  lower  plains,  which 
inturfered  with  our  \'u)\y  of  the  siirrouiuliiiLj  couiilry.  On  one 
sido  wo  overlooked  inniiincrablt;  lakes  and  streams,  the  sj>riiii^  of 
tho  (,'olorado  of  tlio  (iuif  of  (Jalifornia;  and  on  tlio  other  was 
tlio  Wind  Iliver  valley,  where  wero  tho  heads  of  tlie  Vellow- 
Rtoue  branch  of  the  Missouri ;  far  to  tho  north,  we  j.ist  could 
discover  tlie  snowy  heads  of  tho  Trols  Tctons,  wliero  wore  tho 
source  of  tho  Missouri  au'l  Columbia  rivers;  and  at  tho  southern 
extremity  of  the  ridufo,  the  peaks  were  plainly  visible,  amonij 
which  were  some  of  tho  sorings  of  the  Nebraska  or  Platte  River. 
Aiound  us,  tho  whole  i^cene  had  one  main  strikinnr  feature, 
whicli  was  that  of  terrible  convulsion.  Parallel  to  its  length, 
tlie  ridgo  was  split  info  ch;tsms  and  fissures ;  between  which 
rose  the  thin  lofty  walls,  terminated  with  slender  minarets  and 
columns.  Accordinir  to  the  barometer,  the.  little  crest  of  tho 
wall  0)1  which  we  stood  was  three  thousand  five  liundrc'  and 
seventy  feet  above  tliat  place,  and  two  thousand  seven  liundred  and 
eighty  above  the  little  lakes  at  the  bottom,  immediately  at  our 
feet.  Our  camp  at  the  Two  Hills  (an  astronomical  station)  bore 
Bouth  3°  east,  whicdi,  with  a  bearing  afterward  obtained  from  a 
fixed  |»osition,  enabh;d  us  to  locate  the  peak.  The  bearing  of 
the  Tfois  Tetons  was  north  50°  west,  and  tho  direction  of  tho  cen- 
tral ridii'o  of  the  Wind  Kiver  mountains  souUi  30°  east. 

occupies  tho  whole  space  Ijctwoeu  the  true  Rocky  Mountains  and  the 
Calil'ornian  t:no\vy  const  rauf^e  from  M'-^  to  45-^  north  liititude.  This 
district.  w])ich  is  ti  kind  of  l>roixd  longitudinal  valley,  like  that  of  tho 
Lake  Titicaca,  has  been  named  the  (rrcat  B((sin,  l)y  Joseph  Walker  and 
Captain  Fremont,  tvavcllers  well  acquainted  with  those  western  regions. 
It  is  a  (crra  inco;/uiia  of  at  least  8,000  geographical  (or  128,000  English) 
square  miles,  and  almo.^t  uninhabited,  and  full  of  salt  lakes,  the  largest 
of  which  is  J5,010  l*arisian  (or  'l,'2oo  English)  feet  above  the  level  of  tlio 
5en,  and  is  connected  with  the  narrow  Lake  Utah,*  into  which  '  Hock  River ' 
{Timpan  Ogo,  in  the  Utah  language)  pours  its  copious  stream." — Hum- 
boldfn  Aspects  of  Xnturp.     Pp.  82-"-!. 

•freraont :  Report  n/th«  Exploring  Erpeftiticn,  pp.  ir>4  and  273— 2T6. 


f 


FIRST   KXPLOKING    KXPLDITION. 


57 


ns,  which           r| 

On  one 

'pi'ing  of                i 

•tliL'i-  \v;i3                i 
W'lUny- 

ist  couh-l 

wui'u  tho 

southern 

',  anioni:; 

to  River.           .^ 

feature, 

J  lenglli, 

n  which             ■ 

rets  and 

5t  of  tho 

Ire'  and 

d  red  and 

y  at  our 

on)  boro 

from  a 

irincf  of              i 

the  een-            ;i 

tuid  the 
This 
t  of  the 
kcr  and 
regions. 
English) 
c  liirgost, 
■1  of  tlio 
V  River ' 
■Hum' 


"TIio  summit  rock  was  jruoisa,  succeeded  by  sionitlc,  gneiss. 
Sieiiife  and  fcMspar  succeeded  in  our  descent  to  the  snow  lino 
where  we  found  a  fchlspathic;  <j;ranite.  I  liad  remarked  that  (lie 
noise  produced  by  tho  explosion  of  our  j)isti)Is  had  the  usual 
dei^ree  of  loU(hiess,  but  was  not  in  the  hiast  prohmgcd,  cxpiiing 
ahnost  instantaneously.  Ilavinp;  now  ma<lo  what  observations 
our  means  afforded,  wo  proceeded  to  descend.  Wo  liad 
accomplished  an  object  of  laudable  ambition,  and  beyond  tho 
strict  order  of  our  instructions.  We  had  climbed  the  loftiest 
peak  of  tlie  Rocky  Mountains,  and  looked  down  upon  the  snow 
•A  thousand  feet  below,  and,  standing  where  never  human  foot 
had  stood  before,  felt  the  exu4tatioii  of  first  explorers.  It  was 
about  two  o'clock  when  we  left  the  summit;  and  when  we 
reached  the  bottom,  the  sun  had  ali'oady  sunk  behind  the  wall 
and  the  day  wf^s  drawing  to  a  close.  It  would  have  been 
pleasant  to  have  lingered  here  and  on  the.sunnnit  longer ;  but 
we  hurried  away  as  rapidly  as  the  ground  would  permit,  for  it 
was  an  object  to  regain  our  party  as  soon  as  possible,  not 
knowintr  what  accident  the  next  liour  mii^lit  brinij  forth. 

"  We  reached  our  deposit  of  provisions  at  nightfall.  Here 
was  not  the  inn  wdiich  awaits  the  tired  traveller  on  his  return 
from  Mont  lilanc,  or  the  orange  groves  of  South  America,  with 
their  retVeshi ug  juices  and  soft  fragrant  air;  but  we  found  our 
little  cache  of  dried  meat  and  coffee  undisturbed.  Thouo-h  the 
moon  was  bright,  the  road  was  full  of  precipices,  and  tho 
fatiffue  of  the  day  had  been  o-reat.  We  therefore  abandoned 
the  idea  of  rejoining  our  friends,  and  lay  down  on  the  rock,  and 
in  spite  of  the  cold,  slept  soundly." 

On  the  Ibllowiiig  clay,  the  ITtli  of  August,  came  the 
•u'elcome  order  to  turn  their  faces  homeward,  and  on  the 
22d  tliey  reached  the  encanipnicut  of  tlieir  party  at 
liock  Independence.  Here  a  little  incident  occurred 
which  shows  that  amid  the  manifold  trials  and  dangers 
throuijh  which  Fremont  had  passed,  he  had  not  forgotten 

a* 


i 


^il:l 


I;   li: 


II 


( 


58 


UFK    AND    Ri;UViri:S   OF   JOHN    C.    FRKMONT. 


tlio  protocliii<j^  arm  whicli  liad  iilwavfl  been  near  to  siip- 
pnrt  and  (Icli'iid  him.   Wv  ([uole  again  from  liis  journal : 

'•  lind. — Vcstorday  (iVt'iiiiiLr  wo  reaclK'd  our  cticainpnifiit  at 
liock  IiKlt'pciKJunce,  wlicro  I  took  soiiio  astronomical  ob.siM'valioiis. 
Here,  not  iiniiiindfiil  of  tlio  custoni  of  early  travellers  and  e.\- 
jjlorcra  in  our  country,  I  enn^raved  on  that  rock  of  tlio  I'ar  West 
a  synihol  of  the  Christian  faith.  Among  the  thickly  inscribed 
names,  I  made  on  (he  hard  granite  the  imp  :ssion  of  a  largo 
cross,  wliich  I  covered  witli  a  black  preparation  of  Inciia  rubber, 
well  calculated  to  resist  the  inlhienco  of  wind  and  rain.  It 
stands  amidst  the  names  of  many  wlio  liave  long  since  found 
their  wav  to  the  o-rave,  and  for  whom  the  huge  rock  is  a  giant 
tombstone, 

*'  One  (loorgo  Weymouth  was  sent  out  to  Maine  by  the  Earl 
of  Soutliampton,  Lord  Arundel,  and  others;  and  in  the  narra- 
tive of  liis  discoveries,  lie  says :  *  The  next  day  we  ascended  in 
our  pinnace  tliat  part  of  the  river  wliich  lies  more  to  the  west- 
ward, carrying  with  us  a  cross — a  thing  never  omitted  by  any 
Christian  traveller — which  we  erected  at  the  ultimate  end  of  our 
route.'  This  was  in  the  year  1G05  :  and  in  1842  I  obeyed  the 
feeling  of  early  ti'avellers  and  left  the  impression  of  the  cross 
<leeply  engraved  on  a  vast  rock,  one  thousand  miles  beyond  the 
Mississippi,  to  wliich  the  discoverers  have  given  the  national 
name  of  Rock  Independence." 

AVith  Lis  brief  but  thrilling  account  of  an  attempt 
to  visit  Cloat  Island,  in  the  Platte  River,  by  which  he 
was  nearly  losing  many  of  the  most  important  results  of 
his  expedition,  as  well  as  his  life,  wo  will  close  our 
extracts  from  liis  journal : 

"  August  24th. — We  started  before  sunrise,  intending  to  break- 
fast at  (Joat  Island.  Mr.  Preuss  accompanied  me,  and  with  us 
"Nvere  five  of  our  best  men.  llei-e  appeared  no  scarcity  of  water, 
and  we  took  on  board,  with  various  instruments  and  baggage, 


llKsr    i:XI'I,(»UIN<J    KXIT.DITION. 


59 


ir  fo  Riip. 
joiinial : 

ii|»mciit  at 
s«!rv'ati()iis. 
■s  ,'111(1  ex- 
Far  West 

inscribed 
>(  a  laro-o 

;i  rubber, 
rain.  It 
ice  fouiul 
is  u  giant 

the  Earl 
lie  narra- 
:;en(lecl  in 
tlio  west- 
d  by  any 
nd  of  our 
>e}-ed  the 
tlie  cross 
rond  tliG 
national 

itteinpt 
licli  lie 
.lilts  of 
>se  our 

0  bi'cak- 
vvith  us 
f  water, 


provisions  for  tf-n  or  twelve  davs.     We  paddled  down  tl.o  river 

ripidly,  for  our  little  craft  was  Ijnlit  as  a  duck  <>n  the  water;  and 

tli(f  sun   bail   been    some   tiuie  riNcu,  when  we  beard  bi't'ore  tis  a 

liollow  roar,  wblcli  we  supposed  i(»  be  ibat  of  a  fall,  of  wbicli  wo 

bad  lie.ird  a  vai^nu;  rumor,  but  whose  exact  locality  no  one  had 

l)eeii  able  to  describe  to  us.     Wo  were  approaidjina^  a   ridg<3, 

tliroiii>h  whi(di  the  river  passes  by  a  ])laco  called  '  canon' (pro- 

iiouncetl  I'diiyon),  a  Spanish  word,  siiMiifying  a  ])i<!co  of  artillerv, 

the  barrel  of  a  gun,  or  any  kind  of  tube  ;  an<l  whiidi,  in  this 

country,  has  been   adopted  to  describe   the  passage  of  a  river 

between  ]»erpendic\dar  rocks  of  great  height,  which  fre<piently 

approach  eacdi  otlier  so  closely  overhead  as  to  form  a  kind  of 

tunnel  over  the  stream,  which  foams  along  beUnv,  half  choked 

up  by  fallen  fragments. 

"  We  ])assed  three  cataracts  in  succession,  Avhere  j)erhaps  ono 
hundred  ieet  of  smooth  water  intervened ;  and  tinallv  with  a 
shout  of  })leasure  at  our  success,  issued  from  our  tunnel  into  open 
day  beyond.  We  were  so  delighted  with  the  performance  of  our 
boat,  and  so  contident  in  her  powers,  that  we  would  not  have 
liefiitated  to  leap  a  fall  of  ten  feet  with  her.  We  put  to  shore 
for  breakfast  at  some  willows  on  the  right  bank,  imnuHliately 
below  the  mouth  of  the  canon  ;  for  it  was  now  8  o'clock,  and  wo 
had  been  working  since  daylight,  and  were  all  wet,  fatigued  and 
hungry. 

"  We  re-embarked  at  9  o'clock,  and  in  about  twenty  rninutea 
reached  the  next  canon.  Landing  on  a  rocky  shore  at  its  com- 
mencement, we  ascended  the  ri  Jgo  to  reconnoitre.  Portage  was 
out  of  the  question.  So  far  as  we  could  see,  the  jagged  rocks 
pointed  out  the  course  of  the  canon,  on  a  wending  line  of  seven 
or  eight  miles.  It  was  simply  a  narrow,  dark  chasm  in  the  rock; 
and  here  the  perpendicular  faces  were  mucli  higher  than  in  the 
previous  pass,  being  at  this  end  two  to  three  hundred,  and  further 
down,  as  we  afterwards  ascertained,  live  hundred  feet  in  vertical 
height.  Our  previous  success  had  made  us  bold,  and  we  deter- 
mined   again  to  run    the  canon.      FA'orything  was  secured   as 


c 


ii 


!     I 


M 


\       WA 


i 


j    w 


.11 


«0 


f-IFK    AND    SKliVIC'ES    OF    JOHN    C.    FKEMONT. 


firmly  as  possible  ;  aiul  Laving  uivesied  ourselves  of  tlie  greater 
part,  of  our  clothing,  wc  pushed  into  tli'i  stream.     To  save  our 
chronometer  from  accident,  Mr.  Preuss  took  it  and  attempted  to 
proceed  along  the  sliore  on  the  masses  of  rock,  which  in  places 
were  j>iled  up  on  either  side;  but,  after  be  liad  walked  about 
five  minutes,  everything  like  shore  disappeared,  and  the  vertical 
wall  came  squarely  down  into  the  water.     He  therefore  waited 
until  we  came  up.     An  ugly  pass  lay  befoi'e  us.     We  had  made 
fast  to  the  stern  of  the  boat  a  strong  rope  about  fifty  feet  long ; 
and  three  of  tlie  men  clambered  along  among  the  rocks,  and 
with  this  rope  let  her  down  slowly  througli  the  pass.     In  several 
places  high  rocks  lay  scattered  about  in  the  channel ;  and  in  the 
narrows  it  required  all  our  strength  and  skill  to  avoid  staving 
the  boat  on  the  sharp  points.     In  one  of  these,  the  boat  proved 
n  little  too  broad,  and  stuck  fast  for  an  instant,  while  the  water 
flew  over  us ;  fortunately  it  was  but  for  an  instant,  as  our  united 
strength  forced  lier  immediately  through.      The  water  swept 
overboard  only  a  sextant  and  pair  of  saddle-bags.     I  caught  the 
sextant  as  it  passed  by  me,  but  the  saddle-bags  became  the  prey 
of  the  whirlpools.     We  readied  th.e  place  where  Mr.  Preuss  was 
standing,  took  liim  on  board,  and,  with  the  aid  of  the  boat,  put 
the  men  with  the  rope  on  the  succeeding  pile  of  rocks.     AVo 
found  this  passage  much  worse  than  the  previous  one,  and  o.ui^ 
position  was  rather  a  bad  one.     To  go  back  was  impossible ; 
before  us  the  cataract  was  a  sheet  of  foam  ;  and  shirt  up  in  the 
chasm  by  the  rocks,  which,  in  some  places,  seemed  almost  to 
meet  overhead,  the  roar  of  water  was  deafening.     We  pushed 
off  again  ;  but,  after  making  ^  little  distance,  the  force  of  the  cur- 
rent became  too  great  for  the  men  on  shore,  and  two  of  them  let 
go  the  rope.     Lajeunesse,   the  third  man,  hung  on,    and  was 
jei'ked  lieadlbremost  into  the  river  from  a  rock  about  twelve  feet 
liigh  ;  snd  down  the  boat  shot  like  an  arrow,  Basil  followino-  v^ 
in  tlie  rapid  current,  and  exerting  all  his  strength  to  keep  in  mid- 
chnnnel — liis  lioad  only  seen  occasionally  like  a  black  spot  in 
ih^  white  foam.     How  far  he  went,  T  do  not  exaotlv  know  ;  but 


FIE8T   EXPLOKINO   EXPEDITION. 


61 


e  greater 
save  our 
nipted  to 
in  places 
ed  about 
3  vertical 
'e  waited 
I  ad  made 
jet  long ; 
)cks,  and 
n  several 
id  in  the 
I  staving 
t  proved 
be  water 
ir  united 
!r  swept 
:ight  the 
he  prey 
'uss  was 
oat,  put 
.     Wg 
!ind  quit 
ossible  ; 
in  tlie 
nost  to 
ushod 
le  cur- 
em  let 
id  was 
ve  feet 
ino-  I'o 
n  mid- 
pot  in 
but 


3 


.7 

■■-?• 


i 


we  succeeded  in  lurning  the  boat  into  an  eddy  below.  "Cr^ 
Dicn,''  said  Uasil  L.'ijcuncsse,  as  lie  arrived  inunodiately  after  us, 
'  Je  croia  hlcti  que  jai  na^/c  tin  dcini  mile.^  lie  had  owed  his 
life  to  his  skill  as  a  swimmer,  and  I  determined  to  take  him  and 
the  two  others  on  board,  and  trust  to  skill  and  fortune  to  reach 
the  other  end  in  safety.  \Vo  placed  ourselves  on  our  knees, 
with  the  short  paddles  in  our  hands,  the  most  skillful  boatman 
being  at  the  bow;  and  again  we  commenced  our  rapid  descent. 
"  We  cleared  rock  after  rock,  and  sliot  past  ftdl  after  fall,  our 
little  boat  seeming  to  play  with  the  cataract.  We  became  Hushed 
with  success,  and  familiar  with  the  danger ;  and,  yielding  to  the 
excitement  of  the  occasion,  broke  forth  together  into  a  Canadian 
boat  song.  Singing,  or  rather  shouting,  we  dashed  along  ;  and 
Avere,  I  believe,  in  the  midst  of  tlie  chorus,  when  the  boat  struck 
a  concealed  rock  immediately  at  the  foot  of  a  fall,  which  Avliirled 
lier  over  in  an  instant.  Three  of  my  men  could  not  swim,  and  my 
first  feeling  was  to  assist  them,  and  save  some  of  our  clVects;  but 
a  sharp  concaission  or  two  convinced  me  that  T  had  not  yet  saved 
myself.  A  few  strokes  brought  me  into  an  eddy,  and  I  landed 
on  a  pile  of  rocks  on  the  left  side.  Looking  around,  I  saw  that 
Mr.  Preuss  liad  gained  the  shore  on  the  same  side,  about 
twenty  vards  below ;  and  a  little  climbinsT:  and  swimminq;  soon 
brought  him  to  my  side.  On  tlie  opposite  side,  against  the  wall, 
lay  the  boat,  bottom  up;  and  Lambert  was  in  the  act  of  saving 
Descoteaux,  whom  he  had  graspe<l  by  the  hair,  and  who  could  not 
swiin  ;  '■Ltiche  pas^''  said  he,  as  I  afterwards  learned,  '  lache  pas^cher 
frh'c^  '  Crains  jt;as,'  was  the  re})ly,  *  Je  iii'en  vais  mourir  avant 
que  de  fe  lacker.^  Such  was  the  reply  of  courage  and  generosity 
in  the  danger.  For  a  hundred  yards  below  the  current  was 
covered  with  floating  books  and  boxes,  bales  and  blankets,  and 
scattered  articles  of  clothing  ;  and  so  strong  and  boiling  was 
the  stream,  that  even  our  heavy  instruments,  which  were  all  in 
cases,  kept  on  tlie  surface,  and  the  sextant,  circle  and  the  long 
black  box  of  the  telescope,  were  in  view  at  once.  For  a  moment 
I  was  Romewliat  disheartened.    All  our  books,  almost  every  record 


a  i 


62 


LIFE   AND   SERVICES   OF  JOHN   C.    FREMONT. 


IH  > 


1  i 


■Li 


:  I 


of  the  journey,  our  journals  and  registei's  of  astronomical  and 
baroiiic'tric'.'il  observations,  had  been  lost  in  a  nionient.  But  it 
>vas  no  time  to  indulge  in  regrets;  and  I  iuiinediately  set  about 
fcndeavoi'ino-  to  save  soniethino-  fiouj  the  wreck.  Makino-  oiir- 
selves  understood  as  well  as  possible  by  signs  (for  nothing  could 
be  heard  in  the  roar  of  waters),  wc  commenced  our  operations. 
Of  everything  on  board,  the  only  article  that  had  been  aved 
■was  my  double-barreled  gun,  which  Descoteaux  had  caught, 
and  clung  to  with  drowning  tenacity.  The  men  continued  down 
the  liver  on  the  left  bank.  Mr.  Preuss  and  mvself  descended  on 
the  side  we  were  on  ;  and  Lajeuncsse,  with  a  paddle  in  his 
hand,  jumped  on  the  boat  alone,  and  continued  down  the  canon. 
She  was  now  light,  and  cleared  every  bad  place  with  much  less 
difficulty.  In  a  short  time  he  was  joined  by  Lambert,  and  the 
search  was  continued  for  about  a  mile  and  a  half,  which  was  as 
far  as  the  boat  could  proceed  in  the  pass. 

"Here  the  walls  were  about  five  hundred  feet  high,  and  the 
fragments  of  rocks  from  above  had  choked  the  river  into  a  hoi- 
low  pass,  but  one  or  two  feet  above  the  surface.  Through  this 
and  the  interstices  of  the  rock,  the  water  found  its  way.  Fa- 
vored beyond  our  expectations,  all  of  our  registers  had  been 
recovered,  with  the  exception  of  one  of  my  journals,  which  con- 
tained the  notes  and  incidents  of  travel,  and  topographical 
descriptions,  a  number  of  scattered  astronomical  observations, 
principally  meridian  altitudes  of  the  sun,  and  our  barometrical 
register  west  of  Laramie.  Fortunately,  our  other  journals  con- 
tained du[)licates  of  the  most  important  barometrical  observa- 
tions which  had  been  taken  in  the  mountains.  These,  with  a 
few  scattered  notes,  were  all  that  had  been  preserved  of  our  me- 
teoroloo'ical  observations.  In  addition  to  these,  we  saved  the 
circle  ;  and  these,  with  a  few  blankets,  constituted  everything 
that  had  been  rescued  from  the  waters. 

"  The  day  was  running  ra])idly  away,  and  it  was  necessary  to 
reach  Goat  Island,  whither  the  party  had  preceded  us,  before 
night.     In  this  uncertain  countr}',  the  traveller  is  so  much  in  the 


I 


FIRST   EXPLORING   EXPEDITION. 


63 


nical  and 

.     But  it 

set  about 

viug  Dur- 

i 

ing  could 

aerations. 

;cn    cived 

.. 

i  caught, 

• 

led  down 

ended  on 

le  in  his 

he  canon. 

1 

much  less 

,  and  the 

h  was  as 

,  and  the 

iito  a  hol- 

:| 

Dugh  this 

1 

vay.     Fa- 

lad  been 

■A 

ft 

hich  con- 

,Ji 

graphical 

ervations, 

ometrical 

- 

nals  con- 

observa- 

e,  with  a 

'  our  me- 

1 

;aved  the 

rerything 

1 

•essarv  to 

■'■i 

IS,  before 

ch  in  the 

power  of  clmnce,  tliat  we  became  somewhat  unea'^^y  in  regard  to 
llieni.  Shuiikl  anything  have  occurred  in  ttio  brief  interval  of 
oar  PC'paralion,  to  prevent  our  rt^oining  them,  our  situation  would 
be  railier  a  desperate  one.     We  had  not  a  morsel  of  provi^^ions 

our  arms  and  amTuinition  were  gone — and  v/ere  entirely  at 

tlje  niercv  of  anv  straggling  party  of  savages,  and  not  a  little  in 
Janger  of  starvation.  We  therefore  set  out  at  once  in  two  par- 
ties. Mr.  Preuss  and  myself  on  the  left,  and  the  men  on  the 
opposite  side  of  the  river.  Climbing  out  of  the  canon,  we  found 
ourselves  in  a  very  broken  country,  where  we  were  not  yet  able 
to  recognize  any  locality.  In  the  course  of  our  descent  through 
the  canon,  the  rock,  which  at  the  upper  end  was  of  the  decom- 
posing granite,  changed  into  a  varied  sandstone  formation.  The 
hills  and  points  of  the  ridges  were  covered  with  fragments  of  a 
yellow  sandstone,  of  whi<;h  the  strata  were  sometimes  displayed 
in  the  broken  ravines  which  interrupted  our  course,  and  made 
our  walk  extremely  fatiguing.  At  one  point  of  the  canon  the 
red  argillaceous  sandstone  rose  in  a  wall  of  five  hundred  feet, 
surmounted  by  a  stratum  of  white  sandstone;  and  in  an  opposite 
ravine  a  column  of  red  sandstone  rose,  in  form  like  a  steeple, 
about  one  hundred  and  fifty  feet  high.  The  scenery  was 
extremely  picturesque,  and  notwithstanding  our  forlorn  condition, 
we  were  frequently  obliged  to  stop  and  admire  it.  Our  progi'ess 
was  not  very  rapid.  We  had  emerged  from  the  water  half 
naked,  and,  on  arriving  at  the  top  of  the  precij)ice,  I  found 
nnself  with  only  one  moccasin.  The  fragments  of  rock  made 
walking  painful,  and  I  was  frequently  obliged  to  stop  and  pull 
out  the  thoins  of  the  cactus,  liere  the  prevailing  plant,  and  with 
which  a  few  minutes'  walk  covered  the  bottom  of  my  feet.  From 
tliis  ridge,  the  river  emerged  into  a  smiling  prairie,  and  descend- 
ing to  the  bank  for  water,  we  were  joined  by  Benoist.  The  rest 
of  the  paity  were  out  of  sight,  having  taken  a  more  inland  route. 
Wo  cr(>s>ed  ilie  river  repeatedly — sometimes  able  to  ford  it,  and 
sonic'tinit's  swimming — climbed  over  the  riiJijes  of  two  more 
canons,  and  towards  evening  reached  the  cut,  which  we  here 


!,  1 

if  I 


"1 


ih 


^ 

i     : 

It! 

i 

1  '   .' 

1 ' 

!                    '' 

A 

\ 

1 

1 

1 

! 

' 

- 

1 

( 

I       Si 


.11  I 


I  i 


I    i 
!   i 

1   I 


I   t 


i' 


C4 


LIFE   AND   SERVICi:3   OF   JOHN   C.    FRPMONT. 


named  tlie  Hot  Spring  jv.ite.  On  our  previous  visit  in  July,  we 
had  not  entei'cd  this  pa?s,  reserving  it  for  our  descent  in  the 
boftt ;  and  when  we  entered  it  this  evening,  Mr.  Preuss  was  a  few 
hundred  feet  in  advance.  Heated  with  the  long  inarch,  ho  came 
suddenly  upon  a  fine  bold  spring  gushing  from  the  rock,  about 
ten  feet  above  the  river.  Eager  to  enjoy  the  crystal  water,  he 
threw  himself  down  for  a  hasty  draught,  and  took  a  mouthful  of 
water  almost  boilino-  hot.  He  said  nothino-  to  Benoist,  who  laid 
himself  down  to  drink :  but  the  steam  from  the  water  arrested  his 
eagerness,  and  he  escajied  the  liot  draught.  We  had  no  ther- 
mometer, to  ascertain  the  temperature,  but  I  could  hold  my 
hand  in  the  water  just  long  enough  to  count  two  seconds.  There 
are  eight  or  ten  of  these  springs  discharging  themselves  by 
streams  large  enough  to  be  called  runs.  A  loud  hollow  noise 
Avas  heard  from  the  rock,  which  I  suppose  to  be  produced  by  the 
fall  of  the  water.  The  strata  immediately  where  the  issue  is  a 
fine  white  and  calcareous  sandstone,  covered  with  an  incrusta- 
tion of  common  salt.  Leaving  this  Thermopylre  of  the  West,  in 
a  short  walk  we  reached  the  red  rida'e  whi(;h  has  been  described 
as  lying  just  above  Goat  Island.  Ascending  this,  we  found  some 
fresh  tracks  and  a  button,  which  showed  that  the  other  men 
had  alreadv  arrived.  A  shout  from  the  man  who  had  first 
reached  the  top  of  the  ridge,  responded  to  fi-om  below,  informed 
lis  that  our  friends  were  all  on  the  island ;  and  we  were  soon 
among  them.  We  found  some  pieces  of  bufialo  standing  around 
the  fire  for  us,  and  managed  to  get  some  dry  clothes  among  the 
people,  A  sudden  storm  of  rain  drove  us  into  the  best  shelter 
we  could  find,  where  we  slept  soundly,  after  one  of  the  most 
fatiguing  days  I  have  ever  experienced." 

On  the  ITtli  of  October,  Colonel  Fremont  was  cat  St. 
Louis,  and  on  the  29tli  in  Washington.  His  report  was 
co)ni)leted  and  in  the  liands  of  the  War  Department 
before  the  winter  was  over.  It  was  called  for  by  the 
Senate,  and  when  reported.  Dr.  Linn,  then  one  of  the 


J 


^^, 


FIRST   EXPLORING   EXPEDITION. 


65 


Jiilv,  we 
it  in  the 
was  fi  few 
,  he  crime 
•ck,  about 
water,  he 
outhful  of 
who  laid 
rrestod  his 
1)0  ther- 
hold  my 
s.     There 
selves   by 
How  noise 
led  by  the 
issue  is   a 
incrusta- 
e  West,  in 
described 
)und  some 
ither  men 
lad  first 
iiformed 
ere  soon 
U  around 
monor  the 
st  shelter 
the  most 


IS  at  St. 
)ort  was 
artment 
:*  by  the 
e  of  tho 


I 


senators  from  the  State  of  Missouri,  accompanied  a 
motion  to  print  extra  copies  with  some  complimentary 
remarks,  which  we  give  as  reported  in  the  Congreimioial 
Globe  of  that  date  : 

"  In  support  of  his  motion,"  Mr.  L.  said,  "  that  in  the  course 
of  tlie  last  summer  a  very  interesting  expedition  had  been  un- 
dertaken to  'tlie  Rockv  Mountains,  ordered  bv  Colonel  Abert, 
chief  of  the  Topographical  Bureau,  with  the  sanction  of  tlie 
Se(!retary  of  War,  and  executed  by  Lieut.  Fremont  of  the 
Topon'ra})liical  Engineers.  The  object  of  the  expedition  \\  is  to 
examine  and  report  upon  the  rivers  and  country  between  the 
frontiers  of  Missouri  and  the  basis  of  the  Rocky  Mountains;  and 
especially  to  examine  the  character,  and  ascertain  the  latitude 
and  longitude  of  the  South  Pass,  the  great  crossing  phu;e  to 
these  mountains  on  the  way  to  the  Oregon.  All  the  objects  of 
the  expedition  have  been  accomplished,  and  in  a  way  to  be  bene- 
ficial to  science  and  instructive  to  the  general  reader,  as  well  as 
usefi'l  to  the  government. 

"Supplied  with  the  best  astronomical  and  barometrical  instru- 
ments, well  qualified  to  use  them,  and  accompanied  by  twenty- 
five  voi/agcurs^  enlisted  for  the  purpose  at  St.  Louis,  and  trained 
to  all  the  hardships  and  dangers  of  the  prairies  and  the  moun- 
tains, Mr.  Frejnout  left  the  mouth  of  the  Kansas,  on  the  frontiers 
of  Missouri,  on  the  10th  of  June;  and,  in  the  almost  incredil)ly 
short  s])ace  of  four  months,  returned  to  the  same  point,  without 
an  accident  to  a  man,  and  with  a  vast  mass  of  useful  observa- 
tions, and  many  hundred  specimens  in  botany  and  geology. 

"In  executing  his  instructions,  Mr.  Fremont  proceeded  up  the 
Kansas  Kiver  far  enough  to  ascertain  its  character,  and  then 
crossed  over  to  the  Great  Platte,  and  pursued  that  river  to  its 
source  in  the  mountains,  where  the  Sweet  Water  (a  head  biandi 
of  the  Platte),  issues  from  the  neighborhood  of  tho  South  Pass. 
He  reached  this  Pass  on  the  8th  of  August,  and  describes  it  as  a 
wide  and  low  depression  of  the  mountains,  where  the  ascent  is  as 


;i'ii 


:     \ 


I 


M 
M 


G6 


LIFE   AND   SICRVICES   OF   JOHN   C.    FREMONT. 


easy  as  tliat  of  tho  hill  on  \vhi(;li  tliis  Capitol  stands,  and  where 
a  ])Iainlv-beatc'n  waofon  road  leads  to  the  Oreufon,  throuo-h  the 
valley  of  I^cwis's  River,  a  fork  of  the  Columbia.  lie  went 
tliioiiuli  llie  pass,  and  saw  tlie  liead  waters  of  the  Colorado,  of 
the  (jiiilf  of  Califoi'nia;  and  leavinq;  the  vallevs  to  induliye  a 
landiible  curiosity,  and  to  make  some  useful  observations,  and 
attended  by  four  of  his  men,  he  climbed  the  loftiest  peak  of  the 
Rocky  Mountains,  until  then  untrodden  by  any  known  liumRn 
being;  and,  on  the  IStli  of  August,  looked  down  upon  ice  and 
snow  some  thousand  feet  below,  and  traced  in  the  distance  the 
valleys  of  the  rivers  which,  taking  their  rise  in  the  same  elevated 
ridge,  flow  in  opposite  dii'ections  to  the  Pacific  Ocean  and  to  the 
Missis.-ippi.  Fi'om  that  ultimjite  point  he  returned  by  the  valley 
of  the  Great  Platte,  following  the  stream  in  its  whole  course, 
and  solvinj  all  questions  in  relation  to  its  navigability,  and  the 
character  of  the  country  thn.ugh  which  it  Hows. 

"  Over  the  whole  course  of  this  extended  route,  barometrical 
observations  were  made  by  Mr.  Preniont,  to  ascertain  elevations 
both  of  the  plains  and  of  the  mountains  ;  astronomical  observa- 
tions woe  taken  to  ascertain  latitudes  and  longitudes;  the  face 
of  the  country  was  marked  as  arable  or  sterile;  the  facility  of 
travelling,  and  the  practicability  of  routes  noted ;  the  grand 
features  of  rature  described,  and  some  presented  in  drawings; 
military  positions  indicated  ;  and  a  lai'ge  contribution  to  geology 
and  botany  was  made  in  the  varieties  of  plants,  flowers,  shrubs, 
trees,  and  grasses,  and  rocks  and  earths,  which  were  enumerated. 
Drawings  of  some  grand  and  striking  points,  and  a  map  of  the 
whole  route,  illustrate  the  report,  and  facilitate  the  uncierstand- 
ing  of  its  details.  Eight  carts  drawn  by  two  mules  each  accom- 
panied the  expedition  ;  a  fact  which  attests  the  facility  of  travel- 
lino-  in  this  vast  re^'ion.  Herds  of  buffaloes  furnished  subsistence 
to  the  men;  a  short,  nutritious  o'rass,  sustained  the  horses  and 


mules. 


Two 


boys  ( 


one  of  twelve  vears  of  aire,  the  other  of 


»"•' 


eighteen),  besides  the  enlisted  men,  accompanied  the  expedition, 
and  louk  their  share  of  its  hardships ;  which   proves  that  boys, 


I 


I   ! 


FIRST   EXPLOlilNO   EXPEDITION. 


67 


1  where 
lo-li  the 
e  went 
•ado,  of 
dulge  a 
3ns,  and 
k  of  the 

human 
ice  and 
mce  the 
elevated 
id  to  the 
le  valley 

course, 
and  the 

metrical 

I  ovations 

observa- 

le  face 

ity  of 

grand 

awings ; 

geology 

shrubs, 

erated. 

of  the 

rstand- 

accom- 

travel- 

istence 

>es  and 

her  of 

edition, 

boys, 


ns  Avell  as  men,  are  able  to  traverse  the  country  to  the  Rocky 
Moiinfiiiiis. 

"  Tli(3  !  ?sult  of  ;dl  his  observations  Mr.  Fremont  had  condensed 
into  a  brief  report — enough  to  make  a  document  of  niiioly  or 
one  hundred  pages;  and  believing  that  tliis  document  would  be 
of  general  enterest  to  the  whole  country,  and  beneficial  to 
science,  as  well  as  useful  to  the  government,  I  move  the  printing 
of  the  extra  number  wliich  has  been  named. 

"  In  making  this  motion,  and  in  bringing  this  report  to  the 
notice  of  the  Senate,  I  take  a  great  })leasure  in  noticing  the 
activity  and  importance  of  the  TopooTapbical  Bureau.  Under 
its  skillful  and  vigilant  liead  [Colonel  Abert]  numerous  valuable 
and  incessant  surveys  are  made ;  and  a  mass  of  information 
collected  of  the  highest  importance  to  the  country  generally,  as 
Avell  as  to  the  military  branch  of  the  public  service.  This  report 
proves  conclusively  that  the  country,  for  sevcial  hundred  miles 
from  the  fVontier  of  Missouri,  is  exceedingly  beautiful  and  fertile  ; 
alternate  woodland  and  prairie,  and  cert^iin  portions  well  supplied 
with  water.  It  also  proves  that  the  valley  of  the  river  Platte 
has  a  very  rich  soil,  atlordiiig  great  facilities  for  emigrants  to  the 
west  of  the  Kockv  Mountains." 

The  London  AthcncGum^  of  Marcli,  1814,  coniincnces 
a  review  of  tliis  re])ort  in  tlie  following  coinplinieutary 
terms,  Mdiich  we  quote  to  sliow  the  impression  it  pro^ 
duced  in  the  literary  eircles  of  the  old  world  : 

"  The  government  of  the  United  States  did  well  when  in 
furtherance  of  the  resolution  to  surve  "lie  road  across  the  Great 
Western  Prairie  and  the  Rocky  Mountains  to  the  Oreii'on  terri- 
tory,  it  selectetl  Lieut.  P^reinont  for  the  execution  of  the  work. 
AVe  have  rarely  met  with  a  production  so  perfect  in  its  kind  as 
the  unpretending  pamphlet  containing  this  report.  The  narrative, 
clear,  full  and  lively,  occupies  only  70  pages,  to  which  are 
appended  130  [>ages,  iilled  with  the  results  of  botanical  researches, 


S* 


ii  n 


■i 


I\ 


I      I 


\.  ll 


•II 


W  I 


I    I 


!!;:  l!' 


i';i;i 


68 


lh^e  and  si:kvice3  of  john  v.  fkemont. 


of  nRtrononiical  and  metcorologiacal  observations.  "What  a  con- 
trast does  tills  present  to  tlie  voluminous  ein])lin(>ss  and  con- 
ceited rliodoinontado  so  often  brouijlit  forth  l>y  our  costly 
expeditions.  The  country  c^ono  over  by  Lieut,  Fremont  is  cer- 
tainly not  the  must  interesting;  in  the  world,  nor  is  it  quite  now. 
Yet  he  is  evidentlv  not  the  man  to  travel  2,000  miles  without 
observing  inu(;h  which  is  worthy  of  being  recorded  or  to  write  a 
])age  which  is  likely  to  prove  tedious  in  the  reading.  Ilis  points 
of  view  are  so  well  chosen,  Ins  delineation  has  so  much  iruth 
and  sj)irit,  and  his  general  remarks  are  so  accurate  and  compre- 
hensive, that  under  Ins  guidance  we  find  the  far  west  prairies 
nearly  as  fresh  and  tempting  as  the  most  favored  Arcadian 
scenes,  tlio  hallowed  groves  of  which  were  never  trodden  by  the 
foot  of  squatting  emigrant  or  fur  trader." 


:.,  f' 


!    i 

I 
I 


M 


SECOND    KXPLOlilNQ    EXI'EDITION. 


60 


CIIAPTEPt    IV. 


by  the 


SECOND  KXrLOKINO  EXPEDITION KIT  CAKSON MKS.  FRE- 
MONT WITH  HOLDS  OUDERS  FROM  THE  WAR  DEPART^IENT 
COLONEL  UKNTIJn's  ACCOUNT  OF  THE  ]':X1'EDITI0N DIS- 
COVERS     THE     INLAND      SEA PERILOUS     VOYAGE     TO     ITS 

ISLANDS    IN  A  LINEN  P>OAT ARRIVES  AT  FORT  VANCOUVICR 

AND  FULFILLS    THE    INSTRUCTIONS    OF    HIS    GOVERNMENT. 

The  results  of  Col.  Fremont's  first  expedition  were 
BO  unexpected,  and  his  success  altogether  so  extraordi- 
nary, that  his  government  took  no  time  to  deliberate 
upon  the  propriety  of  sending  him  again  into  a  field  of 
duty,  where  he  made  the  department  of  the  public  ser- 
vice, with  which  he  was  connected,  appear  to  so  much 
advantage.  He  had  scarcely  seen  his  maps  and  report 
through  the  press,  before  he  embarked  on  a  second  expe- 
dition, from  the  same  point  on  the  frontier,  but  wuth 
puj'poiscs  even  more  comprehensive  than  those  with 
which  he  set  out  in  lSi2. 

lie  was  instrncted  to  connect  the  exploration  with 
the  surveys  of  the  Pacific  coast,  by  Captain  AVilkes,  who 
had  commanded  the  South  Sea  Exploring  Expedition, 
so  as  to  give  a  connected  survey  of  the  interior  of  our 
continent.  His  party  consisted  principally  of  Creole 
and  Canadian  Fi'ench  and  Americans,  amounting  in  all 


'•  :*a 


1:1  11 


!! 


,1 


n\> 


M\ 


Vo 


LIFK    AND    ^^Kia  ICKS   (IF   Joirx    C.    FUKMOXT. 


to  o\)  UK'ii ;  aiiiniinr  wlioiii  wuro  scvcnil  wlio  accompa- 
iiicHl  him  in  liis  lirst  (.'X|K'<liti(»n.  Mr.  Tlioiiiiis  Filziiiitrick, 
whom  many  yuars  ol"  iiaiiUhip  and  c'X|i()suro  in  tho 
western  territorio.s,  had  rendered  lamiliar  with  a  portion 
of  the  eonntry  it  was  designed  to  ex])h)re,  liad  l)eeii 
fcieleeted  as  his  <i;uide,  and  Mr.  Charles  J*renss,  who  had 
been  his  assistant  in  tiie  ])revious  journev,  was  again 
associated  with  him  in  the  same  eai)aeity. 

In  eomplumee  with  directions  Irom  the  Wiir  Depart- 
ment, Mr.  Theodore  Talhot,  of  Washinuton  city,  was 
attached  to  the  l»arty,  with  a  view  to  advancement  in 
ids  profession  ;  and  at  St.  Lonis  lie  was  joined  by  Mr. 
Frederick  Dwight,  a  gentleman  of  Springtielil,  Massa- 
chnsetts,  wlio  availed  lumself  of  this  escort,  to  visit  the 
Sandwich  Islands  and  China,  by  way  of  Fort  A'^anconvcr. 

Tlie  men  en/j-aired  for  the  service  were:  Alexis  Avot, 
Francois  r>adean,  Oliver  Beaidien,  Bai)tiste  13ernier, 
John  A.  Ca]n})bell,  John  G.  Campbell,  Mannel  Chap- 
man, Itansoni  Clai'k,  Philibert  Courteaii,  Michel  CreliSj 
"William  Creuss,  Clinton  Deforest,  Baptisto  Derosier, 
Basil  Lajeunesse,  Fi'anc/ois  Lajeunesse,  .Henry  Lee, 
Louis  Menard,  Louis  Montreuil,  Samuel  Neal,  Alexis 
Pera,  Franf;ois  Pera,  J  times  Power,  Paphael  Proue, 
Oscar  Sar])y,  Baptistc  Tabean,  Charles  Tai>lin,  Baptistc 
Tesson,  Auguste  Vasquez,  Joseph  Verrot,  Patrick  White, 
Ticry  Wright,  Louis  Zindel,  and  Jacob  Dodson,  a  free 
young  colored  man  of  Washington  city,  who  yolunteered 
to  accompany  the  expedition.  Two  Delaware  Lidiaua 
were  engaged  to  accompany  the  expedition  as  hunters. 
L.  Maxwell,  who  had  accompanied  the  expedition  as 
one  of  the  hunters  in  lSi2,  being  on  his  way  to  Taos, 
in  Xew  Mexico,  also  joined  him.  IJe  was  subsetpiently 
joined  by  his  invaluable  friend,  Kit  Carson,  whom  he 


I 


SECOA'D    F.XrLOKIN(r    KXI'KDlTION. 


71 


f 


-was  so  fortunate  as  to  full  in  "vvith  on  the  coniines  of 
Kc'W  Mexico.''* 

Tlio  i)arty  was  armed  generally  wiili  irallV  carbines, 
which,  with  a  l)rass  12-lb.  howitzer,  had  been  l'unii>iie(l  to 


? 


•osiei' 


L 


) 


ee. 


rone. 


ion  &S, 


*  As  Kit  Carson  lignrcs  .'^oniowhat  pxtonsivcly  in  the  reports  of  Col. 
rreniont,  to  wlioni  lie  proved  of  iiuiileiiliihle  service  in  eiuli  of  his  seve- 
ral   expioiiii^r  expediliods,    we  submit  tliu    following  bketeh   of  his  life 

f  gathered  iiiainlv  iVoiii  his  own  lips. 

Cliristopher  Carson  was  horn  in  Kentucky  in  the  year  1810  or  1811  ; 
his  fallier  ha\iii,:  l»e(Mi  one  of  the  early  settlers,  and  also  a  noted  hunter 
and  Indian  ii',diter.  In  the  year  following,'  Kit's  l)ii'th  the  I'andly  nioveii  to 
the  territory  of  Missouri.  On  this  frontier,  bred  to  horiler  life,  he  remained 
to  the  a;;e  of  lifteen,  when  he  joined  a  trading  party  to  Santa  i'e.  In- 
stead of  returning.  Kit  found  liis  way  by  various  adventures  south, 
through  New  Mexico  to  the  Copper  mines  of  Chihuahua,  where  he 
passed  nine  months  as  a  teamster. 

g  When  about  seventeen  he  juade  his  first  expedition  as  a  trapper  on  the 

I  Rio    Colorado    of   ('alii'ornia.     The    enterprise    was    successful,    though 

utteiuled  witli  considerable  dangers,  the  Mexicans  being  oven  at  that 
early  tlay  very  jealous  of  American  enterprise.  lie  made  good  hid 
return  to  Tao  in  New  Mexico,  and  soon  after  joined  a  trapping  party 
to  the  head  waters  of  the  Arkansas  River,  whence  he  went  northward  to 
the  region  of  the  Rocky  Mountains  which  gives  rise  to  the  Mississippi 
and  Columl)ia  rivers,  where  he  remained  engaged  in  the  trapping  busi- 
ness eiglit  years.  He  became  noted  throughout  that  region  ami  on 
liotli  sides  of  the  Rocky  Mountains,  as  a  successful  trapper,  an  unfail- 
ing shot,  an  unerring  guide,  and  I'or  bravery,  sagacity,  ami  steadiness  iu 
all  circumstances.  He  was  chosen  to  lead  in  almost  all  enterprises  of 
unusual  danger,  and  in  all  attacks  on  the  Indians.  At  one  time  with  a 
party  of  twelve,  he  tracked  a  band  of  near  sixty  Crows  who  had  stolen 
some  of  the  horses  belonging  to  the  trappers  ;  cut  loose  the  animals  which 

I  were  tied  within  ten  feet  of  the  strong  fort  of  logs  in  which  the  Indians 

had  taken  shelter;  attacked  them  and  made  good  his  retreat  with  the 
V.  covered  horses,  an  Indian  of  another  party  who  was  with  the  trappers 
bringing  away  a  Crow  scalp  as  a  trophy.  In  one  cond)at  with  the  Rlack- 
tVet  Indians,  Carson  received  a  rille  ball  which  luoke  his  lel't  slioulder. 
Save  this,  he  escaped  the  manifold  dangers  to  which  he  was  exposed 
wiiliout  serious  bodily  injury. 
Of  eom'se  in  so  turbulent  and  unrestrained  a  life,  where  there  were  no 


I 


s 


:  i'.i 


,'  :'tl 


I     !  Miiiii: 


'   i..< 


111' 


IK .: 

m 


f7ti 


72 


MFls    AND   Br.nviCKS    OK   .TOFfX   f.    FRliMONT. 


liimlVoin  the  United  States  Arsenal  tit  St.  Louis,  .'i«^'ree- 
al)ly  to  tlio  orders  of  Col.  S.  W.  Kearney,  conmiaiidini; 
the  third  iniiitarv  divi.^ion.  We  are  thus  ])arti('idar  in 
mentioning  tliiti  piece  of  ordnance  lor  reasons  ^\■ill{'h 

laws  and  no  prisons,  thoic  wore  not  iinfreqiK'nt  porsoniil  rcncoiilicrt 
anioMfij.Ht  tlio  trnpjt(>rs,  nor  could  the  incst  pt'iicoiibly  (liMposi'd  ulwavfl 
avoid  tlicm.  On  one  (u'ciision  a  KriMudiinan  wiio  ran!vt'(»  us  a  Imliy,  and 
hail  wiiippi'd  a  frood  many  Canadians,  insulted  tlio  Anioricaiis  hy  sayinj; 
tlioy  weiT  otdy  lit  to  lio  whipped  with  switohos.  Carson  resented  this 
instdutlv  l)V  sa\Iiii'  that  he  was  the  most  triflin''  one  anion;'  the  Anieri- 
cans,  and  that  tlie  lirap^art  jiad  l)etter  he^in  with  him.  After  exchang- 
ing a  few  more  Avords,  each  went  away  and  armed  him.-elf,  Carson  with  a 
pistol,  the  Frenchman  with  a  rille,  and  both  mounteil  lor  the  liglit. 
Riding  up  until  tlie  horses'  lieads  nearly  touched — both  li.cd  almost  aL 
the  same  instant.  Carson  was  a  little  the  (pilokcst,  however,  and  his  ball 
passing  through  the  Fi-enehmaii's  head,  made  him  jerk  up  his  gmi,  and 
sent  the  l)all,  which  was  intended  for  Carso-  heart,  grazing  by  his  loft 
eye  and  singeing  his  hair.  This  is,  he  says  the  only  serious  j)ersonivl 
quarrel  he  ever  had. 

Col.  Fremont  owed  his  good  fortune  in  jjrocurlng  Carson's  services  to 
an  accidental  meeting  on  l)oard  the  steamboat  above  St.  Louis,  neither 
liaving  ev(>r  heard  of  the  otiier  before,  as  he  was  setting  out  on  his  first 
expedition.  Carson  remained  with  him  until  he  rocrossod  the  mountains. 
His  courage,  tidcdity,  and  excellent  character,  so  completely  won  the 
heart  of  his  commander  that  in  his  second  expedition  he  was  glad  to 
avail  himself  of  Kit's  services,  on  falling  in  with  him  as  he  chanced  to  do 
on  the  confines  of  Now  Mexico.  Kit  again  left  the  party  on  its  arrival 
this  side  of  the  mountains — not  however,  until  Fremont  had  obtained  a 
promise  froni  hiin  to  join  the  third  expedition  in  case  one  should  bo 
organized,  a  proniise  which  he  faithfully  kept  under  circumstances  calcu- 
lated to  test  his  devotion  to  his  late  commander.  In  the  interim  between 
the  second  and  third  expeditions,  Carson  liad  settled  himself  near  Tao.s 
and  had  begun  to  farm,  preparing  to  lead  a  quiet  life,  when  he  received 
a  note  from  Fremont,  written  at  Bent's  Fort  reminding  him  of  his  ])ro- 
Uiise  and  telling  him  that  he  waited  there  for  him.  In  four  days  from 
liie  receipt  of  this  note,  Carson  joined  the  party,  having  !-old  house  and 
farm  for  less  than  half  the  sum  he  had  first  expended  on  it,  and  put  his 
f;imily  under  the  protection  of  a  friend,  the  late  Gov.  Bent,  until  ho 
should  return  from  a  certainly  long  and  dangerous  journey.     This  pro- 


NT. 

iiiiiisutdini; 
rticulur  in 
;ons  Nvliicli 


(il  reiiconticrt 
I  posed  iilwiiy.s 
,s  a  Itiilly,  and 
ans  hy  huyiiif^ 
I'csciitod  this 
\^  till'  AiiuM'i- 
il'tcf  I'xclmiig- 
("iirsDii  with  a 
for  the  liglit. 
lod  alniost  at 
r,  nnd  liis  bull 
I  lii.^  <f\u\,  and 
u'^  by  Iiis  loft 
ious  personal 

I'rf  soi'viocs  to 
Louis,  noitlior 
lit  on  his  fifst 
he  mountains, 
'toly  Avon  the 
was  glad  to 
chanced  to  do 
on  its  arrival 
id  obtained  a 
nc  should  bo 
stances  oalcu- 
terini  between 
elf  near  Taoa 
1  he  received 
1  of  his  ])ro- 
ur  (lays  I'roni 
lid  house  and 
,  and  put  his 
Iknt,  until  he 
y.     This  pro- 


I 


'W 


FREMONT'S    l>,VN(;KRors    PASSAGK  TlIHOL(iH     .\    (.ANnN     IS    TllK    IM.A  (TK     Kl  \  KK— I'.UiK  5S. 


SECOND    FXPLOETXG    EXPEDITION. 


will  appear  presently.  Three  men  were  oj^pecially  ue- 
tailed  for  its  service,  nnder  the  cluirgc  of  Louis  Zindei, 
a  native  of  Germany,  who  had  bi^en  nineteen  years  a 
iion-eoniniissioneil  otKcer  of  artillery  in  the  Prussian 
arniv,  and  rcu'ularly  instructed  in  the  duties  of  his  pro- 
fession.  The  camp  equipage  and  provisions  were  trans- 
])orted  in  twelve  carts,  drawn  each  by  two  mules  ;  and  a 
light  covered  wagon,  mounted  on  good  springs,  had 
been  provided  for  the  safe  carriage  of  instruments. 
These  were:  One  refracting  telescope,  by  Frauenhofer; 
one  reflecting  circle,  by  Ganibey ;  two  sextants,  by 
Tr(uighton  ;  one  pocket  chronometer,  ^No.  S3T,  by  Goifo, 
Falmouth  ;  one  pocket  chronometer,  Ko.  730,  by  Brock- 
baidv ;  one  syphon  barometer,  by  Bunten,  Paris ;  one 
cistern  barometer,  by  Fiwe  tt  Shaw,  oS'ew  York  ;  six 
thermometers,  and  a  number  of  small  compasses. 

To  make  the  exploration  as  useful  as  possible,  Mr. 
Fremont  determined  to  vary  the  route  to  the  liocky 
Mountains  from  that  followed  in  the  year  1842.  The 
route  was  then  up  the  valley  of  the  Great  Platte  Piver 
to  the  South  Pass,  in  north  latitude  428  ;  the  route  low 
determined  on  was  up  the  valley  of  the  Kansas  Piver,  to 
the  head  of  the  Arkansas  River,  and  to  some  pass  in  the 
mountains,  if  any  could  be  found,  at  its  source. 

P)V  making  this  deviation  from  the  former  route,  the 
problem  of  a  new  road  to  Oregon  and  Californiaj  i'<  a 


'J  »  : 


toetion  uiitortun;\tely  proved  iiisiif^iciont,  for  at  the  infamous  Taos  massa- 
cre which  soon  ensued,  Carson's  brotlier-in-la\v  was  massacred,  and  Mrs. 
Carson  only  saved  her  life  by  iiiglit,  leaving  her  liouse  to  be  pillaged  by 
the  Mexicans. 

When  Carson  was  in  Washington  in  1847,  he  received  from  President 
Polk  the  comndssion  of  lieutenant  in  the  ritle  regiment  of  which  Col. 
Fremont  was  Ueutcnant  colonel. 

i 


ifUl 


.-*  } 


\^  WJ^ 


T4 


LIFE    AND    SEKVICES    OF   JOHN    C.    FEEMONT. 


iJ! 


1  .1  : 


climate  more  iroiiial,  iniglit  l)c  solved;  and  a  l)ettcr 
knowledge  obtained  of  !in  inipoi'tant  river,  and  the 
connli'v  it  drained,  while  the  great  object  of  the  expe- 
dition woidd  find  its  ])oint  of  commencement  at  the  ter- 
mination of  the  former,  -which  was  at  that  great  gate  in 
the  I'ido-o  of  the  liockv  iloimtains  called  the  South 
Pass,  and  on  the  lofty  ])eak  of  ihe  mountain  which  over- 
looks it,  deemed  the  highest  peak  in  the  ridge,  and  I'rom 
the  o})i)osite  sides  of  wliich  four  givat  i'i\ers  take  their 
rise,  and  tlow  to  the  Pacific  or  the  Mississi})]>i. 

The  party  started  tVom  the  little  town  of  Kansas  on 
the  2!.)th  of  May,  IS-to,  and  did  not  get  hack  to  the 
United  States  au'ain  nnlil  Ani-'ust  of  the  followinii:  year. 
"What  tiiev  accomi)li>hcd  and  what  thev  endured  could 
not  be  niore  ibi-eij)ly  described  than  it  has  been  by 
Colonel  J>enton,  who  gives  facts  in  regard  to  the  course 
taken  by  our  government  towards  this  expedition  which 
were  never  before  reveale<l.  We  give  what  lie  says  of 
this  expedition  therefore,  entire." 


■M'  :      ■!  ' 


rf     ! ' 


frri 


"'The  govci'niiiont  deserves  credit  for  the  zeal  with  which  it 
has  pursuL'il  g(.'ngi'a|iliic;il  discoveiy.'  Such  is  the  remark  which  a 
leading  pa})ei'  made  upon  the  discoveries  of  Fremont,  on  his 
retuiai  from  his  second  expedition  to  the  gi'eat  Wcsl  ;  and  such 
is  the  renuu'k  whicli  all  writers  will  make  upon  all  his  tliscover- 
ies  who  write  history  from  public  documents  and  outside  views. 
With  all  such  writers  the  expeditions  of  Fremont  will  be 
credited  to  the  zeal  of  the  govermnent  for  the  ])romotiou  of 
science,  as  if  the  govei'iimcnt  under  which  he  acted  had 
conceived  and  planned  these  expeditions,  as  Mr.  Jell'erson  did 
that  of  Lewis  and  Claik,  and  then  selected  this  vouno-  otlicer  to 
carry  into  eli'ect  the  instructions  delivered  to  him.     How  far 


iHih 


*  Thirti/   Years'    Vinr,  vul.  ii.  cl.ap.  184. 


i 


s 


SECOND    KXl'LORING    EXPEDITIOX. 


^  o 


licli  it 

licli  a 
on  liis 

]  such 
H'over- 

vic'ws. 

:i!    be 

lOU  of 
,1  liad 
111  (lid 
irer  to 
ow  far 


sncli  liistorv  would  bo  true  in  relation  to  the  first  oxpo<lition, 
which  (cniriiiatod  in  the  liocky  Mountains,  ]i;is  been  seen  in  tlio 
accDunt  which  has  been  iiiven  of  thi;  oi'ii^'in  of  that  nndertak'iiij;, 
an<l  which  leaves  the  n-overnment  innocent  of  its  conception  ; 
ariil,  iheix^fore,  not  entitled  to  the  credit  of  its  authorship,  but 
oiilv  to  the  merit  of  ]»erinitlinii,'  it.  In  the  secoiiil.  atnl  u'rcaler 
expedition,  from  which  o'j'cat  political  as  well  as  scientiti('  results 
liave  llowed,  their  mei'it  is  still  less;  for,  while  eipially  innocent 
of  its  conception,  they  wei'e  not  equally  ])assi\c  to  iis  pcrfbi'in- 
aiu'C — countermaiiiliin;'  the  expedition  after  it  had  bcLi'un — and 
lavishinti,-  censure  upon  the  adventurous  younn-  e\})lor('r  Ibr  his 
manner  of  und(M'takint>'  it.  The  fact  \vas,  that  his  fir>t  exjioliiiou 
baielv  tinished,  Mr.  Fremont  sought  and  obtained  orilers  t'or  a 
second  one,  and  Avas  on  the  frontier  of  Missouri  with  his  com- 
mand when  orders  arrived  at  St.  houis  to  stoj>  him,  on  the 
ground  that  he  hail  made  a  military  eipiipmeiit  which  the  ])eace- 
ful  nature  of  his  e-eoM-raphical  pursuit  did  not  re(piire!  as  if  In- 
dians did  not  kill  and  rob  scientific  men  as  well  as  others  if  not  in 
a  condition  to  defend  themselves.  The  pai'ticidar  point  of  coni- 
jilaint  was  that  he  had  taken  a  small  iiioimtain  howit/.er,  in  ad- 
dition to  bis  ritles  ;  and  which,  he  was  intbnued,  was  charn-ed  to 
]iiui,  althoueh  it  had  been  furnished  upon  a  I'e^'ular  re(|uisitiou 
on  the  cotmnandant  of  the  arsenal  at  Si.  Louis,  aj>pi'o\'e(l  hv  the 
cominauiler  of  the  military  department  (Colonel,  afterward  (ieii- 
eral  Kearney).  Mr.  Fi'emont  had  left  St.  Louis,  and  was  at  the 
froiiiiei',  Mrs.  l-'remont  beini^  re(piested  to  examine  the  letters 
that  came  after  him,  and  Ibrward  those  which  he  ought  to  le- 
ccive.  She  read  the  countermanding  orders  and  detained 
them  I  and  Fremont  knew  nothing  of  their  existeiu-e,  until 
after  he  had  retui'ned  from  one  of  tlie  most  marvellous  and 
eventful  ex]ieditions  of  modern  times — one  to  which  the  United 
Siatt's  are  indehteil  (among  other  thing.-)  tor  the  present  own- 
er-hip of  Calilbrnia,  instead  of  seeing  it  a  Ib'itish  jiosses.-iou. 
The  writer  of  thid  V^iew,  who  was  then  in  St.  I^ouis,  ajiproNcd  of 
the  course  which  his  daughter  had  taken  (for  she  liad  stopped 


\w 


11 


n  I 


:  i 


J 


I! 


li 


1!^ 


i  U 


*r 


\H.  r  ■  i 


iFt!:'  ! 


I 


TO 


LIFE    AND    SF.RVTCKS    OF   JOnX    C.    FHEMONT. 


llie  orders  boforo  lie  know  it)  ;  nTuI  lie  wrote  a  letter  to  the 
(,le])artnient  ciuiiltMiiiiiii^-  the  recall,  repulsing'  the  repriinaiid 
Aviiich  li;i(i  been  l;.vi>-he<l  upcn  Freiiiont,  and  deinandinn-  a  cdurt- 
maitial  for  liini  wIk.'Ii  he  should  return.  The  !?^ecretary  of  War 
Avas  ilicii  Mr.  -lanics  Madison  I'orter,  of  I'ennsylvatiia ;  the 
eliicf  of  the  topo^-rapliical  corj)s  the  same  as  now  ((Jolonel 
Abert),  himself  an  ollice  man,  surrounded  by  West  I'oiiit  olli- 
cers,  to  whose  ]»ursuit  of  easy  service,  Fremont's  adventurous 
e\|«'ditions  was  a  reproach  ;  and  in  (!ontbrinity  to  whose  opi- 
iii(»ns  the  secretary  seemed  to  have  acted.  On  i'^remont's  return, 
upwarils  of  a  \ear  afteiwai'ds,  Mr.  A\'illiam  \\  ilkins,  of  J'enn- 
svhania,  was  Secretaiy  of  War,  and  received  the  vouii^'  exploi'er 
Avith  all  hoiioi'  and  tViendship,  and  obtained  for  him  the  brevet 
of  caj>tain  from  J'lesideiit  'Jyler.  And  such  is  the  inside  view  of 
this  j)iece  of  histoiy — very  dillerent  from  what  documentary 
evidence  wouhl  make  ii. 

"'J"o  com])lete  his  sui'vey  across  the  continent,  on  the  line  of 
travel  between  the  State  of  Missouri  and  the  tide-water  region 
of  the  Columbia,  was  Frenu>nt's  object  in  this  expedition  ;  and 
it  was  all  that  he  had  obtained  oiders  for  doing;  butoidya  small 
part,  and  to  his  mind,  an  insignitit-ant  part,  of  what  iie  })ropos?d 
doing.  People  had  been  to  the  mouth  of  the  Columbia  before, 
and  his  andiition  was  not  limited  to  making  tracks  nliore  others 
had  made  them  Liel'ore  him.  Thei'e  was  a  \ast  region  beyond 
the  Rocky  Mountains — the  whole  western  slope  of  oui'  continent 
— of  which  but  little  was  known  ;  and  of  that  little,  nothing 
with  the  accur;icy  of  science.  All  that  vast  region,  moi'e  than 
seven  hundred  miles  srpiare — equal  to  a  great  kingdom  in  Europe 
— was  an  unknown  laiK.l — a  sealed  book,  which  he  lonofod  to 
open,  and  to  read.  Leaving  the  frontier  of  Missouri  in  May, 
1843,  and  often  diverging  from  his  route  for  the  sake  c»f  expand- 
ing his  held  of  obsei\ation,  he  hail  arrived  in  the  tide-water 
region  of  Columbia  in  the  month  of  November;  and  had  then 
com[)'eted  the  whole  sei'vice  which  his  orchu's  emliraced.  Lw 
might  then  have  returned  npon  his  tracks,  or  been  brought  home 


i  '■ 


!i 


SECOND   EXPLORING   EXPEDITION. 


Tr 


[•  to  the 
pi'iinjvnd 

ii  cotirt- 

of    Will" 

ii;i ;  tlio 
(("()!( >nel 
i)iiit  o\\\- 
ciitiiroiif? 
i()S('  <>])i- 
s  return, 

of    J '(3)111- 

exploi'cr 
ic  brevet 
J  view  of 
.imentary 

ic  line  of 
■  r  i'('!j,'ion 
ion  ;  and 
va  small 
pr(>])ns':^d 
;;,  before, 
re  others 
beyond 
;ontinent 
nothing 
ore  than 
n  Europe 
jngetl   to 
in   May, 
■ expand- 
i.le-water 
hail  then 
•e<l.      lie 
'•lit  home 


bv  Sfii,  or  hunted  the  most  ph-asant  jiatli  tor  getting  hat 'Ic  ;  and 
it'  he  1i;h1  been  a  routine  ojlieer,  sati>fle(l  with  fultilling  ;ui  order, 
lie  would  have  done  so,  Not  so  tiie  young  explorer.  \\\\n  jield 
his  di])hinia  fi'oin  nalui'e,  and  not  tVoui  the  United  States  Mdi- 
tarv  Aea(h'mv.  lie  was  at  F»*rt  Vaneouvei',  guest  of  the  h«>vpi. 
table  l>r.  M(d.aiighlin,  (Jovei'uor  of  the  British  Hudson  liay 
]-"ur  Company  ;  and  obtainerl  fi'om  him  all  ])0s.sible  intormati()n 
npon  his  intended  line  of  return — faithfully  given,  but  which 
jdoveil  to  he  disastrously  eri'oni'ous  in  its  leading  and  governing 
feafui'i.'.  A  southeast  route  to  cross  the  great  nidcnown  region 
diau'onally  through  its  heart  (making  u  line  from  the  Lower 
Cohimbia  to  the  Upper  Colorado  of  the  Gulf  of  t';ilit'ornia),  was 
his  line  of  retui'U  :  twenty-live  men  (the  same  who  had  eome 
with  him  fioiii  the  Unit<'(l  States)  and  a  hundred  horses,  wei'e  his 
(■I jiiiiiiiieut  ;  and  the  commencemi'iit  of  winter  the  time  <)f  start- 
ing—  all  without  a  guide,  relying  upon  their  guns  for  support; 
and,  in  tiie  last  resort,  upcju  their  horses — such  as  .■should  give 
out  !  ior  one  that  could  cairy  u  man.  or  a  pack,  could  nut  bo 
b^jiared  f.jr  food. 

••  All  the  maps  n|)  to  that  time  liad  shown  this  region  traversed 
fVom  east  to  west — from  the  base  of  the  Koeky  Mountains  to  the 
j>av  of  San  h'raneisco — bv  a  irreat  river  called  the  JJacna  Veil- 
tuni  :  which  niay  be  translated,  the  Good  Chance.  (j!o\ern(jr 
Mchaughlin  lielieved  in  the  existence  of  this  river,  and  made  out 
a  conjectural  manuscri|)t  map  to  show  its  j)Iace  and  course. 
Fremont  believed  in  it,  and  his  jilan  was  to  reacdi  it  before  the 
dead  t)f  winter,  and  then  hvbernate  unon  it.  As  a  o'reat  J'iver 
lie  knew  that  it  must  have  some  rich  bottoms,  covered  with 
wood  ;'n(l  u'l'ass,  where  the  wild  animals  would  collect  and  shel- 


ter, when  the  simws  aui 


I    i 


reczmg  wimjs   (lro\e    ihc 


an    fi 
th 


'om  tne 


th 


plains:  and  with  tliese  animals  to  liveon,  aiKJ  u'rass  tor  the  hoi'ses 

he    exiKH'ted    to  a\(>id  ^uli'el•iIl;'',   if  not   ti 


and    Wood   tor  iires, 


enjov  comlort,  during  his  solitary  soj(jurn  in  that  remote  and  pro- 
ftiund  wildei'uess. 

"  J  b' proceeded — soon  encountered  deep  snows  which  impeded 


o       1  M 


its. 

i 


I 


rji^p 


ii 


!.  i 


m 


Hi 


li 

::. 

ii^j:! 

;i(5| 


f\ 


78 


LIKE    AND    SERVICES    OF    JOHN    C.    FliEMONT. 


progress  upon   tlic  lii^'lil;ui<!s — '.k'sct'iKled  into  a  low  country  to 
the  left  (afterwards  known  to  be  the  Gi'eat  Basin,  iVoni  whifh  no 
water  i>snes  to  ariv  sea) — skirted  an  enornioiis  cliain  'd'  iiK)nntain 
on   the   ri^ifht,  hiininous  witli  Lrlitt(M'iiie"  whi.e  snow — saw  stran^'o 
luilians,  who  ino>tlv  lied— f)niid   a   desiM't — no    l»iiena  ViMilura; 
and  death  fioin  cold  and  famine  stai'lni:^   lUiu   in   the  face.      The 
failure  to  lind  the  river,  or  tidings  of  it,  r.nd  the  ]tossibility  of  its 
existence  seeming  to  be  forbid  by  the  sti'ucturo  of  the  country, 
and  hybei-nation  in  the  inhospitable  desert  being  iuipossible,  and 
the  <juestion  being  that  of  life  and  (lealli,  some  new  }»lan  of  con- 
duct became  in<lispensable.      His  celeslial  obsei'vations  toM   him 
thai  he  was  in  the  latitude  of  the  liayof  San  Fraiu'isro,  and  oidy 
seventy   miles   fi'om    it.     J>ut    what   miles!    u})    and    down    that 
snowv  mountain  which  the  Indians  rold  him  no  men  could   cross 
in  tin.'  winter  —  wtiich  woidd  have  snow  U]i<)n  it   as  dee])   as  the 
trees,  and  places  where  people  would  sh'p  oil",  and  fall  half  a  mile 
at  a  time  ; — a  fate  which  actually  befell  a  mule,  [lacked  with  the 
precious  burden   of  botanical  specimens,  collected  along  a  travel 
of  two  thousand  miles.     No   rewar<l    couM  induce    an    Indian  to 
become  a  guide  in  the  pei'ilous  adventiii'e  of  crossitc^-  this  moun- 
tain.      All     recoiled    and    tied    from    the    adventui-e.       It    was 
attempted  without  a  guide — in  the  dead  of  winter — accom[ilished 
in  fortv  davs — the  men  and  survivin<T  Imrses — a  Wdcful  nroces- 
sion,  ci'awling  along  one  by  one  ;  skeleton  men  leading  skeleton 
horses — and  arriving  at  Suttei-'s  Settlement  in  the  beautiful  valley 
of  the  Sac!'a:nento ;    and    where  a   genial  warmth,  and  budding 
flowers.    Mild    trees   in    foliage,   aiul   grassy  ground,    and    flowing 
streams,  ami   comfortable  fm-xl,  made    a   fairy   conti'ast  with    the 
fiiiiine  and   tVce/ing    they  had    encountered,  and  the  loftv  Sierra 
Ke\ada  which  they  had  climiied.     Ilei'c  he  rested  and  recruited; 
and   fr(»m   this   point,  and    by  way  of  .Nbuiterev,  the   first   tidings 
were  heard  <»!'  the  pariy  since  leavini;'  F(jrt  Vancouver. 

"  Another  long  progress  to  the  sinith,  skirling  the  western  haso 
of  the  Sierra  Xevaila,  ma<le  him  acipiainteil  with  the  noble 
valley   of  the   San   .b)aipiin,   countei'part   to   that  of  the   Sacra- 


1 

1'  ■ 

Hi 

1 

'li: 

i 

'!li.l 

\-' 

SEOOXD    KXrLORINO    EXrKDITIOX. 


79 


tidings 


monto;  wlitMi  crossino;  tlirougli  a  g;ip,  and  tuniino-  to  the  K^ft,  he 
skilled  till!  ( d'cat  liasin;  an^i  hy  many  iluviali(^iis  from  lIio  I'iglit 
line  home,  Icviuil  inci-ssanL  cniitrilmtions  to  science  tVom  expanded 
];tii(!s.  not  docrilicd  Iiefui'c.  In  this  e\-entful  explorulion,  all  I'lo 
e'l'eat  fealurcs  of  tlie  westei'n  sldpt?  of  onr  continent  were  bron^-jit 
to  liu'lit — the  (ireat  Salt  Lake,  the  Utah  Lake,  the  Little  Salt 
Lake;  at  all  which  places,  tlien  deserts,  the  Mormons  now  are; 
the  Siei'ra  Xevada,  then  solitary  in  the  snow,  now  crowded  with 
Americans,  digginij  i;-old  from  its  flanks:  the  beautiful  valleys  of 
llie  Sacramento  and  San  Joaipiin,  then  alive  with  wild  horses,  elk, 
deer,  and  wild  fowls,  now  snulino"  with  Amei'icau  cultivation; 
the  (ireat  Dasin  itself,  ami  its  contents;  the  Throe  l*arks ;  the 
ajiproximation  ot'  the  u'reat  ri\'ers  which,  rising  together  in  the 
central  ree'i<»n  of  the  Kockv  Mountains,  cro  oti"  east  and  west, 
towards  the  rising  and  the  st;tting  sun — all  these,  and  othe^ 
strauLi'e  features  of  a  new  region,  more  Asiatic  than  American» 
Avere  brought  to  light  and  re\ealed  to  public  view  in  the  results 
of  this  exploration. 

"Eleven  months  lie  was  never  out  ot'  sight  of  snow' ;  and 
soiiieiimes,  freezing  with  coM,  would  U)ok  down  u[)on.  a  sunny 
valley,  warm  with  gi.Miial  heat ; — sometiiiies  panting  with  the 
bummer's  heat,  would  look  up  at  tlie  eternal  sn(.)ws  wduch  crowned 
the  neiii-hboring  mountain.  Jiut  it  was  not  then  that  California 
was  secureil  to  the  Union — to  the  greatest  power  of  the  Xew 
"World — to  which  it  of  right  belongeil  ;  but  it  was  the  first  step 
towards  the  acquisition,  and  the  one  that  led  to  it.  The  second 
expedition  led  to  a  third,  just  in  time  to  snatch  t'le  golden  Cali- 
fornia from  the  hands  of  the  JJritish,  ready  to  clutch  it.  But  of 
this  liereafter.  Fremont's  second  expedition  was  now  over,  lie 
had  let'i  the  L'nited  States  a  fugitive  iVom  his  government,  and 
returned  with  a  name  that  went  over  Europe  and  Amei'ica,  and 
with   discoveries  beariuir  fruit  which  the  civihzed  world  is  now 


el 


ii 


enjoying 


,.» 


ThriUiiiix  as  this  brief  sketch  bv  Col.  Benton  is,  it  con- 


■M 


i 


80 


I.TFE   AND   RKli VICES    OF   JOHN    0.    FREMONT. 


f 


u\ 


I!    i: 


i'i 


:ij 


vers  to  the  I'eiidcr  l)ut  jui  iiujiorfect  idea  of  the  liardslii'ps 
of  tliis  awl'iil  iouriU'V,  and  of  tlie  heroism  of  the  liltlo 
band  who  eudui'iMl  ilicin,  Fremont  set  out  from  ihe  town 
of  Kansas,  as  wc  lia\u  ah'cadv  stated,  on  the  li'Jlli  of  Mav. 
On  the  Gill  of  lSe])teniher,  and  after  travelling  over 
l,ToO  miles,  he  eanie  in  sight  of  the  Salt  Lake,  the  most 
important  geographical  result  of  his  travels  to  that  point. 
The  description  of  his  approach  to  this  Inland  Sea,  as  he 
then  termed  it,  and  his  perilous  voyage  to  an  island  with 
"which  it  was  gemmed  in  his  linen  boat,  the  lii'st  of  any 
kind  lliat  ever  j)loughc'd  that  une\[ilored  water,  cannot  be 
ii-iven  t(»  better  jidvantaii'e  than  in  his  own  words.  The 
Jiight  belbre  they  luul  encamped  a  few  mih's  distant  on 
"what  was  known  as  \\'t,'ber's  Fork,  a  stream  from  100  to 
150  feet  wide,     lie  contimied  his  narrative  as  follows  : 

"  September  Gth. — LcaN'iiig  the  eiR'anipnient  early,  we  again 
directed  our  eoui'se  lur  the  peiiinsul;ir  btille  across  a  low  shrubby 
i»lain,  ciossinu'  in  the  wav  a  slouijfh-like  eieek,  with  niirv  banks, 
and  wooded  with  tliickets  of  thoi'ii  (crafctt/iis)  which  were  loaded 
Avith  bcrrlo^^.  Tins  time  we  readied  the  butte  without  any  ditli- 
cnlty,  and,  ascended  to  the  siunniit,  immediately  at  our  feet 
beheM  the  t)liject  of  our  anxions  seai'di — the  waters  of  the  Inland 
Sea,  stretcliinn-  in  still  and  solitarv  irrandeur  far  bevond  the  liiidt 
of  our  vision.  Jt  was  one  of  the  great  points  of  the  ex[)loration; 
and  as  we  looked  eagerly  over  the  lake  in  the  lirst  emotions  of 
excited  pleasure,  I  am  doubtful  if  the  followers  of  Balboa  felt 
more  enthusiasm  when,  t'rom  the  heights  of  the  Andes,  they  saw 
for  the  lirst  time  the  ''I'^'at  western  ocean.  It  was  certainlv  a 
iiiiigidticeiit  object,  and  a  noble  terminus  to  this  part  of  oin- expe- 
dition ;  and  lo  travellers  so  lono;  shut  ui)  amonij  mountain  raiiLi'es, 
a  sudden  \iew  oxci'  the  exjiause  of  silent  watei's  had  in  it  some- 
thing sublime.  Several  large  islands  raised  their  high  rocky  peaks 
out  of  the   waves;    but  wiielli  i' or  not  they  were  tindKTed,  "was 


bix'oNi)  j;xri.(»iiiN(;   kxtiidition. 


SI 


Btlll  li'fL   U)   our   iiii.'iu'iiiation,  as   tlio  (listaiicc  was  too  £;roat  to 
doleniiiiie  it' llic  ihirk  Ihk.'s  u\>*)\\  iIumii  wltc  \V()im1I;iii«I  or   uaki'd 


I'dC 


]>l 


ii'iiiLT   till!    (la\'    llio    cliMiiN    li.i'l    iM'cii   ^'al  li'Tiii'^   Mack 


o\fr  lilt!  iiioiiuiaiiM  to  tliu  wcstwai'il,  ainl,  wliilc  we  wiM'c  lookin"- 


a  storm  lairsL  (.lowu  with  siiiMcii  fury  u|ioii  iluj  lake,  ainl  ciiiiii 


•ly 


>i>  lav  as  we  coiilil  si.'o,  ali>ii':  Itio 


liiil  I  he  islands  from  our  vii'W. 

hliores  tlicro  was  not   a  soljini'v  tree,  and    hut    little  ajipcarai 


th 


ICO 

ast 


ot'  Li'i'ass ;  anil  on  WcIum's  l'\)i'k,  a  few  milc^  Im-Iow  our 
encampment,  the  timber  was  ijathei'ed  into  ^•l■ov^■s,  and  tiieii  dis- 
a|>i>eai'ed  entirely.  As  this  apjieai'e<l  to  he  ihe  nearest  point  to 
the  lake  wliei'C  a  suitable  fainp  could  be  found,  we  diiccted  our 
coui'se  to  one  of  ihe  e-roves,  where  we  touud  a  liandM>iiii' c'lieamp- 


ment,  with  e-ooi 


]  isv. 


i>s  and  an  abuiidauee  of  inches 


(''7 


usi'hnii 


h//f/n(i!n).     At  sunset  the  thei'mometer  was   55";    the  evening 


clear  and  calm,  wiili  some  cumuli. 


St'pUmhc 


r  i. 


tie  moi'uinij;  was  calm  ami  dcai",  with  a  tem- 


perature at  sunrise  of  39°  5'.  The  day  was  spent  in  active 
preparation  for  our  intended  voyai;'e  on  the  lake.  On  the  edg'e 
of  the  stream  a  favorable  s})ot  was  selected  in  a  ^^rove,  ami, 
felliiin'tlie  timber,  we  made  ;i  sti'one^  con'dl,  or  horse  i>en,  for  the 
animals,  and  a  little  I'ort  ibr  the  peo|)le  who  wore  to  I'emain. 
AVe  were  now  probably  in  the  country  of  the  Utah  Indians, 
though  none  reside  npoii  the  lake.  'J'he  India-ruiiber  boat  was 
repaired  with  prepared  cloth  and  g'lun,  and  tilled  -.villi  air,  in 
readiness  for  the  next  day. 

The  provisions  which  Carson  had  brouglit  wltli  him  being 
now  exliausted,  and  our  stotdc  reduced  to  a  small  ipianlily  of 
roots,  I  determined  to  retain  with  me  only  a  suflicieiit  number 
of  men  ibr  the  execution  of  our 


u 


iie>iL!"n 


ami 


accorduiu'lv  seven 


were  sent  back  to  Fort  Hall,  under  the  guidance  of  Fran(;ois 
L.'ijeunesse,  u ho,  having  been  t'or  many  years  a  trapper  in  iho 
I'ountrv,  war-  considered  an  (.'xperienced   mountaineer.     Though 


lliey  were  ])ro 


viae 


Willi 


!'0O(., 


1     1 


lorsc 


ate 


till!    roail    was  a  re- 


markably plain  one,  of  only  four  days'   jouniev  for  a   horseman, 
they  became  bewildered  (as  we  at'lerw.tiJ.s  learned),  and  lo.-.ing 


'II 


r    ?^1 


«; 


!t'' 


82 


lAli:    AND   SKliVKKS    UF   JollN    C.    I'la.Mo.NT. 


\i 


l'!    i 


tlic'ir  wav,  AVHTiilorod  aliout  tlii>  couiitiy  in  partitas  of  one  or  two, 
i'oat'liiii'4  til''  fori  alioiit,  a  week  afhTwar'l.H  Sonu'  sti'an'^'lcil  in 
of  iIk'IiiscIvcs,  ami  tin;  oiIkts  wcrtj  broils-Ill  in  l>y  ln'liaiis  wlio 
liail  ]iirl<cil  tliciii  ii|Hiii  Snake  Ki\cr,  ahoiit,  sixty  miles  hclow  tlio 
fort,  liaNelliii^'  al(iii;4'  llie  ciiii^TaiiL  road  in  lull  urireli  for  tiic 
Lower  Culunibia.  Tlio  leader  of  ilii.s  aJvciitiirou.s  party  was 
rraii(;ois. 

"  We  formo<l  now  but  a  t^niall  family.  With  Mr.  Preuss  and 
myself,  Carson,  llornier,  and  Uasil  Lajeiinosso,  lia<l  been  soleetod 
for  tlio  boat  exiiedition — the  first  ever  attein|)ted  on  this  interior 
soa ;  and  IVadeau,  with  Derosicr,  and  Jacob  (the  colored  man), 
were  to  be  left  in  chai-'^e  of  the  camp.  We  were  favored  with 
most  delin'hf.fid  weather.  'J'o-nis'hf.  ther(!  was  u  brilliant  sunset 
tjf  i;ol(ieii  orani;"eand  i;M'een,  whieh  left  the  western  sky  clear  and 
beauiit'ulU-  ]>ure;  but  clouds  in  tli<^  east  luaile  nie  lose  an  occul- 
laiion.  The  summer  fi'on'><  were  sin^iiiii;  around  us,  and  llie  eveii- 
iiiLf  was  Very  pleasant,  with  a  temperatui'e  of  0(')° — a  nie'lit  of  a 
more  souihei'ii  autumn.  J'^or  our  su[»per  we  had  //n.iiipah,  the 
most  a^'i'eeablv  llaNored  of  the  I'oots,  seasoned  by  a  small  fat 
duck,  which  had  come  in  the  way  of  Jacob's  ritle.  Around  our 
tire  to-nie'ht  were  many  siieculations  on  wliat  to-morrow  would 
briiiL;'  forth,  and  in  our  l)usy  conjectures  we  fancied  that  wo 
should  lind  e\erv  one  of  the  lai'u'e  islands  a  tano-led  wilderness 
of  trees  and  shrubbery,  teeming  with  game  of  every  description 
that  the  nein-hboring  roe-ion  alforded,  and  which  the  foot  of  a 
white  man  or  Indian  had  never  violated.  Freipiently,  during  the 
day,  clouds  had  rested  on  the  summits  of  their  lofty  mountains, 
and  we  believed  that  w^' >hould  lind  clear  streams  and  springs  of 
freshwater;  and  we  indul^'ed  in  antici[iations  of  the  luxurious 
repasts  \\ilh  which  we  were  to  indomnit'v  ourselves  for  [)ast  pri- 
vations. Neithoi',  in  our  di<cus-ions,  were  (he  whirljiool  and 
other  mysterious  dan^-ers  t'orgoiteii,  whieh  Indian  and  hunter's 
stories  attributed  to  this  unoxplorod  lake. 

"The  men  iiad  discovoreil  that,  in--tead  of  being  strongly 
sewed.  (like  that  of  the  preceding  year,  whi(;h  had  so  trium})h- 


..■ly 


1 


PKC'oNI)    KXl'LOIilNO    KXPEDmoX. 


S3 


aiitly  ro<lo  tho  canons  of  llie  rppcr  (licat  I'latte),  our  prosont 
boat  was  only  paslcd  t'>u"i'tli('r  in  a  very  insecure  luarincr,  flio 
ni.iki'i'  lia\  in^-  lufu  allnwcl  st»  liiilo  limn  in  i.ln;  ('(Mislnirtiuu 
thai  lit'  was  dMi^-cil  to  ciowil  ilii-  laliur  of  two  nuiUihs  into  >t'vt)- 
I'al  days.  'I'lio  insiruriiy  of  tlio  l)oal  was  .scnsiMv  I't'lr  liv  us; 
and  min^'K'd  willi  tliu  ciitliu^iasui  and  rxcitcnicni  tJia'  we  all 
fell  al  the  prospect  of  an  undoi'takiuu;  which  had  ticscr  before, 
been  acconi[ilislied,  was  a  certain  iinpi'e-sion  ot'  dannxT,  sulli- 
c'ieiit,  to  Li'i\i!  a  si.'i'ions  character  to  our  conNer>ation.  'I  ho 
momentary  view  which  had  been  had  of  the  lake  the  day  before, 
its  c-reat  extent  ;ind  ru^-nred  islands,  <'iiiily  seen  amidst  tiio  waters 
in  the  obscurity  of  the  sudden  storm,  were  well  calculated  to 
heinhten  the  idea  of  undelined  daiin'er  with  which  tho  lake  was 
m-Mieiallv  assoi;ialed. 

^^  Si'pteitihcr  8. — A  calm,  clear  day,  with  a  sunrise  tomperaturo 
of  41'^.  In  view  of  our  pi^  >cnt,  enterprise,  a  part  of  the  c(]uip- 
meiit  of  the  boat  had  b(;en  niadi;  to  consist  in  thri/e  air-ti^'ht 
baii-s,  about  three  feet  loiin",  and  caj)abl(;  ea(di  of  (H)ntainini;  tivo 
gallons.  These  iiad  been  tilled  with  water  the  niu'Iit  before, 
and  were  now  placeil  in  the  boat,  with  (jur  blaidcets  and  instru- 
ments, (consisting  of  a  sextant,  telescope,  s[)y -glass,  thermometer, 
and  barometer. 

"  We  h.'fi  the  camp  at  sunrise,  and  had  a  very  pleasant  voyage 
down  the  river,  in  which  there  was  generally  eight  or  ten  feet  of 
water,  deepening  as  we  neared  tho  mouth  in  the  latter  part  of 
the  day.  In  tho  course  of  the  morning  we  discovered  that  two 
of  the  cylinders  leaked  so  much  as  to  retiuire  one  man  constantly 
at  the  bellows,  to  keep  them  sullitnently  full  of  air  to  support  tho 
boat.  Altliough  we  had  made  a  very  early  start,  we  loiteifd  so 
much  on  tho  way — stop[»ing  every  now  and  then,  and  tloating 
silenth-  aloU"",  to  u'ct  a  shot  at  a  n'oose  or  a  duck — that  it  wa:j 
late  in  the  day  when  wo  reached  the  outlet.  The  river  here 
ui\;dcd  into  several  branches,  filled  with  lluvials,  and  so  very 
shallosv  that  it  was  with  dilliculty  wo  could  get  tho  boat  along, 
beino-  obliged  to  set  out  and  wade.     Wo  encamped  on  a  low 


' 


tei 


IMAGE  EVALUATION 
TEST  TARGET  (MT-3) 


^^ 


v^^* 


V^ 


1.0 


I.I 


IL25  1 1.4 


|50     ■"^"        ■■■ 

u£  mi  122 

MM 

1,6 


P> 


v: 


'^ 


c'y 


Hiotographic 

Sciences 

Corporation 


23  WEST  MAIN  STREET 

WEBSTER,  N.Y.  MS80 

(716)  873-4503 


•O^ 


iV 


4=. 


7j 


S} 


IMF.    AND    SKIiVICKA   OF    JOHN    0.    FliF.MoNT. 


'r.  m 


point  amoiifj  rushes  aii<l  youuiij  ^vilIo\vs,  -where  there  was  a  qiian- 
titv  (A'  ilrit'i  wooil,  whicli  scrvud  I'ur  our  tires.  The  evening  was 
iiiiKl  and  dour;  we  mad.'  a  |il.'asciii  l)ed  of  llie  young  willows; 
autl  gt'cse  ajid  ducks  eiiougii  had  been  killed  for  an  abundant 
BU|'|ier  at  night,  and  for  breakfast  the  next  nioruing.  The  siill- 
ne.->s  of  the  night  was  enlivened  by  millions  of  water  fowl. 
Latitude  (by  observation)  41°  11'  2G"  ;  and  longitude  112° 
11'  ;3U". 

"  S'^ptcnihcr  9. — The  day  was  elear  and  cahn  ;  tlie  thermome- 
ter at  sunrise  at  40°.  As  usual  wilh  the  trapj)ers  on  the  eve  of 
anv  enterprise,  our  people  h;id  made  dreams  and  theirs  haj)- 
poiH^d  to  be  a  bad  one — one  whiidi  always  preceded  evil — and 
(■(>n-^('(jnenllv  thev  looked  \erv  gloomy  this  morning;  but  we 
hurried  througli  our  breakfast,  in  oi'der  to  make  an  eai'ly  start, 
and  have  all  the  (lav  before  us  for  our  adventui'e.  The  channel 
in  a  short  distance  became  so  shallow  that  our  navigation  was  at 
an  end,  being  n)ei'ely  a  sheet  of  soft  nnid,  with  a  few  iii'-hes  of 
water,  and  sometimes  none  at  all,  forming  the  low-water  shore 
of  the  lake.  All  this  ])lace  was  absolutely  covered  wilh  llocks 
of  screaming  plover.  We  took  oil"  our  clothes,  and,  geiting 
overboard,  commenced  drai>'<>nng  the  boat — makini>',  bv  this  oiie- 
ration,  a  veiy  curious  trail,  and  a  very  disagreeable  smell  in  stir- 
ring up  the  nukl,  as  we  sank  above  the  knee  at  eveiy  step.  The 
Avater  here  was  still  fivsh,  with  only  an  insipid  and  disagree- 
able taste,  probal)ly  derived  from  the  bed  of  fetid  mud.  After 
proceeding  in  this  way  about  a  mile,  avo  came  to  a  small  black 
ridge  on  the  bottom,  beyond  which  the  water  became  suddeidy 
salt,  beginning  gradually  to  deepen,  and  the  bottom  was  sandy 
and  firm.  It  was  a  remarkable  division,  separating  the  fresh 
waters  of  the  rivers  from  the  briny  water  of  the  lake,  which  Avas 
enlirelv  saturakd  with  common  salt.  Pushino;  our  little  vessel 
across  the  narrow  boundary,  wo  snran<x  on  board,  and  at  leiiu'tli 
weiealloal  on  the  waters  of  the  unknown  sea. 

"  Wo  did  not  steer  lor  the  mountainous  islands,  but  dire(;ted 
our  cGui'se  towards  a  lower  one,  v.hicli   it  had  been  decided  we 


KI'XJONI)    IvXPLOUING    EXPEDITION. 


shoiili]  first  visit,  tho  suininit  of  which  was  fornied  like  the  cra- 


iiii'lh 


we 


4 


ter  at  the  ii]>i)er  em 


1  of  ]] 


Jear  Kisor  vallev.     So  lon^f  as  we  con 


Id 


touch  the  bottom  with  our  patldles,  we  were  very  i;ay  ;  but 
ofradually,  as  the  water  deejiened,  \v«  becaiiij  more  still  in  our 
frail  Lateau  of  ^um  cloth  distended  with  aii-,  and  with  )>a>tcd 
seams.  Althoug-h  tiie  day  was  vcuy  calm,  there  was  a  consitlera- 
ble  swell  on  the  lake ;  and  there  were  white  patches  of  foam  on 
the  surface,  which  were  slowlv  movin^r  to  the  southward,  indi- 
catino:  the  set  of  a  current  in  that  direction,  and  recallino"  the 
recollection  of  the  whirl[)ool  stories.  The  water  continue<l  to 
deei)en  as  we  advanced  ;  the  lake  becoming  almost  transparently 
clear,  of  an  e.\trenu-ly  beautiful  bright-green  color ;  and  the  spray, 
whit'h  was  thrown  into  the  boat  and  over  our  (;Iothcs,  was  dl- 
rectlv  converted  into  a  crust  of  common  salt,  which  co\ered  also 
our  hands  and  arms.  'Ca))tain,'  said  Carson,  who  for  some  time 
liad  been  looking  suspiciously  at  soniO  whiteinng  a]ip('a''anccs 
outside  the  nea  'est  island,  "  what  are  those  yonder? — woti'i  you 
just  take  a  look  with  the  glass?"  AVe  ceased  paddling  for  a 
moment,  and  found  them  to  be  the  cajjs  of  thti  waves  that  were 
beginninu-  to  break  under  the  force  of  a  stronfj  breeze  that  was 
coming  up  the  lake. 

"  The  form  of  the  boat  seemed  to  be  an  admirable  one,  and  it 
rode  on  the  waves  like  u  water  bird;  but  at  the  same  time,  it 
was  slow  in  its  progress.  When  we  were  little  more  than  half 
wav  across  the  reach,  two  of  the  divisions  between  the  cvlinders 
gave  way,  and  it  reijuired  the  constant  use  of  the  bellows  to 
keej)  in  a  sullicient  quantity  of  air.  For  a  long  time  we  scarcely 
Seemed  to  approach  our  island,  but  graiUuilly  we  workeil  across 
the  rougher  sea  of  the  open  channel,  into  the  smoother  water 
under  the  lee  of  the  island ;  and  began  to  discover  that  what 
we  took  for  a  hjng  row  of  pelicans,  ranged  on  the  b^ach,  were 
only  low  clili's,  whitened  with  salt  by  the  spray  of  the  waves; 
and  about  noon  we  reached  the  shore,  the  transp;ti'e:ii'v  of  the 
water  enabling  us  to  see  the  bottom  at  a  considerable  dej)th. 

''It  was  a   handsome  broad  beach  where  we   landed,  behind 


s 


h  i 


w  » 


80 


LIFE   AND   SKliVICES  OF   JOHN    C.    FUKMONT. 


wliicli  the  lull,  into  wliidi  the  island  wu^  ijathcretl,  rose  somo- 
\vliat  al)riii»tlv  ;  and  a  jiointot"  I'ock  at  oiui  011(1  eiiclost'd  it  in  a 
sheltering  way  ;  and  as  tlicre  was  an  aliundam^e  of  dritt  wood 
along  the  shore,  it  olll^i'ed  us  a  plea-^ant  (•ncani[)nu'nt.  We  did 
not  sutler  our  (Vagi le  boat  to  touch  thehhaij)  rorks,  hut  guttingover- 
board,  discharged  the  hagi^age,  and  lit'ung  it  gc'iitly  out  ot"  the 
water,  carried  it  to  the  upper  j)art  of  the  beach,  which  was  com- 
posed oi"  very  small  fragments  of  rock. 

"Among  the  successive  baid<s  of  the  beach,  formed  by  the 
action  of  the  waves,  our  attention,  as  we  approached  the  island, 
had  been  attracted  by  one  10  to  20  ftn-t  in  breadth,  of  a  dark- 
brown  color.  l>einu"  more  closely  examined,  this  was  ibund  to 
be  composed,  to  the  de]>th  of  seven  or  eight  and  twelve  inches, 
cnlii'cly  of  the  larivc  of  insects,  or,  in  common  language,  of 
the  skins  of  worms,  about  the  size  of  a  grain  o:'  oats,  which 
luid  been  washed  up  by  the  waters  of  the  lake. 

"The  clill's  and  masses  of  rock  along  the  shoi'e  were  whit- 
ened  by  an  incrusiation  of  salt  where  the  waves  dashed  up 
against  them ;  and  the  evaporating  water,  whicli  had  been 
left  in  holes  and  hollows  on  the  surfjice  of  the  rocks,  was 
covered  with  a  crust  of  salt  about  one-eighth  of  an  inch  in 
thickness.  It  appeared  strange  that,  in  the  midst  of  this  grand 
reservoir,  one  of  our  greatest  wants  lately  hail  been  salt.  Ex- 
posed  to  be  more  perfectly  dried  in  the  sun,  this  became  very 
white  and  tine,  having  the  nsual  flavor  of  very  excellent  coin 
mon  salt,  without  any  foreign  taste  ;  but  only  a  little  was  col- 
lected for  present  use,  as  there  was  in  it  a  number  of  small 
black  insects. 

"  Cai'rying  with  us  the  barometer,  and  other  instruments,  in 
the  afternoon  Ave  ascended  to  the  highest  point  of  (he  island 
—  a  bare  rocky  peak,  800  feet  above  the  lake.  Standing  on  the 
summit,  we  enjoyed  an  ext»Mided  view  of  the  lake,  euclos<^d  iu  a 
basin  of  ruog'ed  mountains,  wdiich  sometimes  left  marshy  (bits 
and  extensive  bottoms  between  them  and  the  shore,  and  in  other 
places  came  directly  down  into  the  wnter  with  bold  arid  precipi- 


BECOND    i:xri';inNG    KXl'KDITION. 


tons  bluffs.  Followinii  witli  our  rjbisses  the  irrojijuhir  slioros,  we 
sojii'clifd  1')!"  sdiac  iinlicatioiis  of  ;i  (•oiuiiiiiiiicalioii  willi  (iIIrt 
b()<iies  of  wati'i',  or  llui  oiiti'aiico  of  ollujr  rivers;  hut  llio  dis- 
taiH'<3  was  so  o-n-at  that  wo  foiiM  iiiaku  out  iiothin^^  with  ccr- 
taiuty.  'i'o  the  souihw.-ud,  several  peiiiiisuhu'  iiiouiii;iius,  ;},()U0 
or  4,()UU  ie.'t  high,  eiitoreil  the  hike,  .'ippeariii;,^  so  tar  as  the 
distance  and  our  position  enablei]  us  to  deterudne,  to  be  con- 
not'ted  by  flats  and  low  ridi^^es  with  the  nuAintains  in  the  rear. 
These  are  probably  the  islands  usually  indicated  on  ina[)s  of  this 
reunion  as  entirely  detached  from  the  shore.  The  season  of  our 
operations  was  when  the  waters  were  at  their  lowest  sta^'e.  At 
the  seas(Mi  of  liii;h  waters  in  the  spring-,  it  is  probable  that  the 
marshes  and  low  li'rounds  r,re  overtlowed,  and  the  surface  of  the 
lake  considerably  i:;reatcr.  In  several  j)Iaces  the  view  was  of  un- 
limited extent — here  and  tliei'e  a  I'ocky  islet  ajtpearinqf  above  the 
water  at  a  o-reat  distance  ;  and  beyond,  evervthinof  was  va^'ue 
and  uudefine<l.  As  we  lookc(l  over  the  vast  expanse  of  water 
spread  out  beneath  us,  and  strained  our  eyes  along-  the  silent 
shores  over  which  hung  so  nnndi  doubt  and  uncertainty,  and 
which  were  so  full  of  interest  to  us,  [  could  hardly  repre>s  the 
almost  irresistible  desire  to  continue  our  exploration  ;  but  the 
lengthening  snow  on  the  mountains  was  a  plain  indication  of  the 
advancing  season,  and  our  frail  linen  boat  appeared  so  insecure 
that  I  was  unwilling  to  trust  our  lives  to  the  uncertainties  of  the 
lake.  I  therefore  unwillingly  resolved  to  terminate  our  survey 
liere,  and  remain  satisfied  for  the  present  with  what  we  had 
been  able  to  add  the  unknovn  geography  of  the  region.  We 
felt  pleasure  also  in  remendicring  that  we  were  the  tirst  who,  in 
traditionary  aniials  of  the  country,  had  yisited  the  islands,  and 
broken,  with  the  cheerful  souuil  of  human  yijices,  the  long  soli- 
tude of  the  ])lace.  From  the  point  where  we  were  standing,  ihe 
ground  tell  otf  on  e\eiT  side  to  the  water,  giving  us  a  pertect 
view  of  the  island,  wddch  is  twelve  or  thirteen  miles  in  circuni- 
lerence,  being  simply  a  rocky  hill,  on  which  thei'e  is  neither 
water  nor  trees  of  anv  kind;  although  tlie    Fre/nonfta   rrnnicU' 


-It 


,  t 


LIKK    AND    SKUVICKS    <>F   JullN    C.    FKLAIONT. 


laris,  ^vliii'li   \v;i^;  in    ^-ivat  ;i])Uii«laii(;o,  iiiii;'lit  oasilv  bo  inistiiken 


for  lii 


niK 


■V  at  a  (li> 


aiif 


aiit 


scM'iiiL'il  here  to  Ui'liu'lil  Hj  a 


(.'(jiii;'emal    air,   ^'I'ouinij    in    cxtrau 


r.litiarv   liixuriaiK-c   soncu    to 


ui^■Ilt   IrcL    liii;'li,  ami    \\a^   \<'i\-  aliuiidaiit  on  the  upper  \ 


v  i>arls  of 


th 


U3  islainl,  where  it  was 


ahiiost  ihe  oiil}'  jihaiit.    'J'his  is  eiuineiit- 


Iv  a  .saline  .shrill) 


it.< 


ave.s  liave  a  vei'v  salt  taste;  ano 


I  it  1 


II  xu- 


riates  in  saline  soils,  where  it  is  usually  <'i  cliaracteristic.  It  is 
widely  dilhise.l  over  all  this  country.  A  (•lr.'no])Otliaceous  slirub, 
which  is   a  new   species  of  ohionk  (<).   rigida,  7ci/v',  i^*  Fnm.), 


wae 


e(jually   charae.teristic   of    the   lower   ])arts   of   the   i 


^land. 

The.se  two  are  the  si rikinu;  plants  on  the  island,  and  i)eloni^  to 
a  class  of  plants  wh.icli  form  a  ])roniiuent  feature  in  the  ve^'c- 
tation  of  this  country.  ( >n  the  lower  ])arts  of  the  island,  also, 
a  prickly  pear  of  very  larn^e  size  was  frecpient.  On  the  shoi'o, 
near  the  water,  was  a  woolly  species  of  phnca  ;  and  a  new  spe- 
cies of  uiiibellit'erous  plant  (leptotccmla)  was  scattered  about  in 
verv  considerable  abundance.  These  constituted  all  the  vei-'eta- 
tion  that  now  appeared  upon  the  island. 

"  I  accidentally  left  on  the  sunnnit  the  brass  cover  to  th^ 
object  end  of  my  spy-glass  ;  and  as  it  Avill  probably  remain 
there  undisturbed  by  Indians,  it  Avill  furnish  matter  of  specu- 
lation to  some  future  traveller.  In  our  excnirsions  about  the 
island,  we  did  not  meet  with  any  kind  of  animal ;  a  magpie, 
and  another  larger  bird,  ])robably  atti'acted  by  the  smoke  of 
our  lire,  paid  us  a  visit  from  the  shore,  and  were  the  only 
living  things  seen  during  our  stay.  The  rock  constituting  the 
clirt's  along  the  shore  \Nhere  we  were  encamped,  is  a  talcous 
rock,  or  steatite,  Avith  brown  spar. 

"  At  sunset,  the  temperature  was  70°.  AVe  had  arrived 
just  in  time  to  obtain  a  meridian  altituile  of  the  sun,  and 
other  (.)l)sorvations  were  obla!;ied  this  evoning,  vliich  ]>lace 
our  camp  in  latllude  41°10'  42",  and  longitude  112°  21'  05" 
fi'om  Greenwich.  From  a  di.scussion  of  the  barometrical  obser- 
vations made  diirinuf  our  stay  on  the  shores  of  the  lake,  we  have 
adopted  4,200  feet  for  its  elevation  above  the  gulf  of  Mexico. 


SFX'OND  KX]'i,oui.\a  r.xrrniTiMN. 


89 


am 

-'c  li- 
the 
>ie. 


ice 

0 

er- 
ive 

CO. 


In   the  first  disa]>]>()iiitiiU'Tit  \v(>  iMt  from  the  <li<-i|iatii»ii   of  our 
(JrcaKi  of  tlio  ior'.ile  islaiiils,  I  (.'ailo'l  tliis  Disupjinhitiinut  Ishni'l. 

"  <  Hit  ot'  tlie  (\v'\\\  Wood,  wo  iiia'lf  oiii'-rUc-;  [ilca^ant  litilo 
l()(li;'(.'s,  ()j)oii  to  till'  waKi,  ami,  after  lia\iii'j,-  kiii<!l.'il  lari^'i'  tiros  to 
excite  the  wonder  of  any  stra:.;''^-lin'j,'  suva^'e  on  the  lake  slioi'cs, 
la,  down,  for  the  first  tiiitc  in  a  loiin' jonrneN ,  in  j  ci'fect  security  ; 
no  one  thinkini^  about  iiis  ai'uis.  The  eviMiini;;  was  extremely 
briu'ht  and  jiloasant ;  but  tlie  wiml  I'ose  dnrin:^  tlie  iiii^bt,  and 
the  waves  be^'an  tc  break  lieavily  on  the  shore,  makini;'  our 
island  ti'einble.  I  liad  not  expected  ii;  our  inland  journey  to 
liear  tlie  I'oar  of  an  ocean  surf;  and  the  stran^'eness  of  our 
situation,  and  tlie  excitement  we  felt  in  the  associated  interests 
of  the  place.  nia<!e  this  one  of  the  most  interesting:  ni'-'hts  [  re- 
member  during  our  long  ex|-editi(^ii. 

"  In  the  morning  the  surf  was  breidcino;  lieavilv  on  tlie  sliore, 
and  we  were  ui)  early.  The  lake  was  dark  and  aii'itated.  and  we 
hurried  thro^^•h  our  scanty  breaktast,  and  embarked — ha\ing 
first  filled  one  of  the  buckets  with  water  from  the  lake,  of  wliieii 
it  was  intended  to  make  salt.  'J'he  sun  had  risen  by  the  time  we 
were  reaily  to  start;  and  it  was  blowing  a  >trong  gale  ot'  wiiiii, 
almost  directly  olf  the  shore,  and  raising  a  considerable  sea,  in 
which  our  boat  straineil  verv  miicli.  It  romdieiied  as  we  m^t 
away  from  the  island,  and  it  required  all  the  etlbrts  of  tlie  men 
to  make  any  head  against  the  wind  and  soa,  the  gale  rising  with 
the  sun  ;  ain]  there  was  danger  of  being  blown  into  one  of  the 
ojKMi  reaches  beyond  the  island.  At  the  distance  of  half  a  mile 
from  the  beach,  the  depth  of  water  was  sixteen  I'eet,  with  a  clay 
bottom;  but,  as  the  working  of  the  boat  was  very  severe  labor, 
and  during  the  operation  of  rounding  it  was  necessary  to  cease 
paddling,  during  which  the  boat  lost  considerable  way,  I  was 
unwilling  to  discourage  the  men,  and  reluctantly  gave  up  my 
intention  cf  ascertaining  the  depth,  and  the  character  of  the  bed. 
There  was  a  genei'al  shout  in  the  boat  wIkmi  we  found  oursidves 
in  one  fitliom,  and  we  soon  after  lainled  on  a  low  point  of  mu-l, 
immediately  under  the  buttc  of  the  peninsula,  where  we  unluade  i 


:;  S 


I  \- 


t'« 


^1 


t 

IP 


I- 


00 


LIFE   AND   SKUVICK^   OV   .KMIX    C.    FUKMONT. 


tlio  boal  and  cai'i'icil  tin;  haLX^viLr''  alx.iit  a  (|iiat(<'i'  of  a  iiiiK;  t3 
firmer  fji-oiiiid.  \\\i  an'ivt.'il  jiist,  in  lime  tor  meridian  ()l)serva- 
l.ioii,  ;iiid  carrieci  ilie  liaromi'tcr  lo  the  summit  ot"  the  hntle,  whic'i 
is  500  feet,  al)Ove  the  lake.  Mr.  I'rcuss  set  oil'  <»n  t'txit  tiir  ihe 
(.'amp,  whieh  was  aliouL  nine  miles  disianl  ;  Hasil  aeeom|ianyini^ 
liim  to  biin^'  haek  horses  lor  the  boat,  and  baii'LjaL'"'-*. 

"The  rude-luokini^  slielter  we  raise<l  on  the  shore,  our  scat- 
tered bHgi;ai,'e  and  boat  lyini^  on  the  beaeh,  made  quite  a  pieture  ; 
and  wo  called  this  the /V^/it'/v/^ayt'^'  Cmnp.  J.i/nofilrlii  r/rdccolcns, 
and  another  new  species  of  oitioNK(')  confenit'olia — Ton:  lO 
Jnuiii.),  were  y'l  iwinu;  on  tho  low  ^'I'ounds,  with  interspersed 
sjtots  of  an  nnwhc^lesoine  sal.  gJ'ass,  on  a  saline  clay  soil,  with  a 
few  other  plants. 

"The  horses  arrived  late  in  the  afternoon,  by  which  time  tlio 
gale  liad  increased  to  such  a  height  that  a  man  eoidd  scarcely 
stand  before  it;  and  we  were  obliged  to  pa(d<  our  baggago 
liastily,  as  the  rising  water  of  the  lake  ha<l  already  reached  the 
jioint  where  we  were  halted.  Looking  hark  as  we  rode  otl",  wo 
found  the  ]>lace  of  recent  encampment  entirely  covered.  Tho 
low  plain  through  winch  ^ve  rode  to  the  camp  was  covered  with 
a  compact  growth  of  shrubs  of  extraordinary  size  and  luxuriance, 
'llie  soil  was  sandy  nnd  saline;  Hat  jdaces,  resembling  the  beds 
of  |)onds,  that  were  bare  of  vegetation,  and  covered  with  a  pow- 
(hM'y  white  salt,  being  interspersed  among  tlie  shrid)s.  Artemisia 
ti'identata  was  very  abundant,  but  the  plants  were  principally 
fialine;  a  large  and  vigorous  chenopodiaceous  shrub,  live  to 
eight  feet  high,  being  characteristic,  with  Fremoiitia  vermieii- 
lai'is,  and  a  shrubby  plant  which  seems  to  be  a  new  saliconiia, 
AVe  reached  the  camp  in  time  to  escape  a  thunder  storm  which 
bh'udcened  the  skv,  and  were  received  with  a  dischar^fe  of  the 
howitzer  by  the  people,  who,  having  been  unable  to  see  any- 
thing of  us  on  the  lake,  had  begun  to  feel  some  uneasiness." 

On  tlio  4tli  of  Xovciiiber,  Col.  Fi-emoiit  and  Iiis 
party  reiicdit'il  Fort  A^aiicouver,  on  the  Coluiubici  lliver, 


'I'VIl- 

hi.li 


iiiif 


sc;it- 
ui'o; 


'ens. 


ise<J 


ill 


the 


'CU 


llllO 

;  wo 

TIlQ 

willi 
nice. 


i 


BLCUNI)    KXl'LOKLNG    KXrKDITION. 


91 


llitcivst  ;iii(|  111 


tin'  ai'poiiiU'd  ti'i'ininiis  of  liis  joiinu'V.  IIo  rcniurks 
ill  liis  JMuriial  that  it  winild  have  \)vv\[  verv  ;i-ratitViiiir 
to  liavc  i;(tiie  (htNvii  to  tlic  Paciiic,  aiul  sok-ly  in  iho 
liic  hiN'ii  of  iJ,•»'o^^allhy,  to  liavc  seen  the; 
(KH'aii  on  the  wcsUtii  as  well  as  on  the  eastern  side  of 
the  eonliiient,  so  as  to  ^ive  a  satist'actoiy  coinpleteiiess 
to  the  n'eoo-i'aphieal  pietnrc  wliieli  had  been  foniuMl  in 
liis  mind;  but  tlie  rainy  season  had  now  ren'ularly  set 
in,  and  the  air  was  tilled  with  foiis  and  rain,  whieli  left 
no  beauty  in  anv  seenerv,  and  obstrueted  oliservations. 
The  obieet  of  his  instructions  had  been  entirelv  fultilled 


m  havinii'  coniun 


ted  1 


lis  reconm^ssanee  wi 


til    t 


le  sur- 


veys of  Caj)tain  Wilkes;  and  althoui;-1i  it  would  have 
been    aurei'able    and    sati>factory    to    have    c'oni))leted 


th 


lere  his  astroiioiiiieal  ol)servatioiis,  he  ditl  not   teel  tliat 


lor  such  a  I'easou  he  woii 


lid  1) 


.1" 


;tilie(l 


111  waitiiin'  h»r 


favorable  wi'allier.  ile  theref(U'e  siii'nilied  his  intention 
to  his  coinpiinioiis  t(j  set  out  for  the  east  without  an  hour's 
iinnece.-isary  delay. 


)0\V- 

lisia 


)a 


lly 
to 


i«ai- 


Viia, 


IllCll 


tl 


le 


mv- 


liis 
ter. 


T 


U2 


mm;    AM)    SKliVICKS   OF   JoIlN    C.    FliKMONT. 


Cil  APTE  \l    Y. 


SECOND  i:xri.(i!MN(;  kximidiiiox  ((txiiNTi;!) — >v:v!^  orr  viioyi 
i''(HM'  VA.\(<»rvi;i: — i.\i  i;Ki>ii.\(r  Indian  coiNcir. — simikcii 

OF   COL.    FKi  MoNl' .UirK'Ni:V    'rillJort;!!    '1III-:    MiUNlAINS 

INSANllV  OK   HIS   MFX    FiCoM   I'KIVATloN   AN  D  ('(  H.D— I'Ul.FS.S 

LOSKS    IIJS     WAV Ai:ivlVAL    AT    TllK    KAM.llF    OF    CAl'TAIX 

bL'TTi;j{. 


•■  t' 


n  v-y 


T>f  two  clays,  |)ro}>araf ions  for  tluMi*  rotuni  were  coiii- 
2)lL'tt'(l,  and  on  tlio  loth  of  NovciuIkt,  his  llltle  party 
omhai'kc'd  on  tlicii'  lioitU'\var(l  Jounu'V,  in  which  lie  coii- 
teiiiidati'd  a  circuit  to  the  south  and  southeast,  and  the 
exploration  of  tlie  (ireat  J'asin  between  the  liocky 
^Mountains  and  the  Sicr/'a  JS^vada.  Three  j»rinci})al 
objects  were  iiuHcated,  by  re])ort  or  by  maps,  as  beinuj 
on  this  route,  the  character  or  exi??tence  of  which  ho 
^vislled  to  ascertain,  and  which  he  assumed  as  land 
marks,  or  leading;"  jxiints,  on  tlie  projected  line  of 
return.  Tlie  iirst  of  these  }>oinls  was  the  TUimaih 
Lake,  on  the  table-land  between  tlie  head  of  Fall  liiver, 
which  conies  tu  the  Columbia,  and  the  Sacramento, 
"W'hich  ii'oi's  to  the  bay  of  San  Trancisco;  and  fiom 
which  lake  a  river  of  the  same  name  makes  its  way 
westwardly  direct  to  the  ocean.  The  ])(\sition  of  this 
lake,   on    the    line    of  inland   communication    beLweeu 


FKc'oxn  I  xi'i.oijTNTf  Kxrrnrnox. 


O.'l 


Oron^nn  nnd  Calitoniia;  Ua  j^roxiinity  to  tlio  doniai-kii- 
tioii  l)()ini(lary  of  latihido  42";  its  iiiipiitcMl  (luul)lo 
cliaractiT  of  lak»',  f>r  iiK'iidow,  accoi'diiiL,^  to  the  reason  ot' 
the  year;  and  tlu'  lioslilo  and  wnrlikc  cliai-actcr  uttri- 
l)iito(l  to  the  Indians  ai)out  it — all  niadi^  it  a  di'siraMo 
ohj(.'Ct  to  visit  and  cxaniinc.  .Fnun  this  lake  ho 
intcndiMl  to  n;o  ahoiit  southeast,  to  a  repiM'ted  lako 
callcfl  Mary's,  distajit  sonu^  days'  journey  in  the  (ireat 
JIadii;  and  thence,  still  on  soutlu -ist,  to  the  reputed 
JJuenai'tutura  lliver,  which  has  had  a  place  in  many 
maps,  couiiteiiancini;'  a  belief  in  the  e.\isteiice  of  a 
great  river  flowinij  from  tlie  Rocky  ^I(;untains  to  the 
])ay  of  San  Francisco.  From  the  I'uenavt'ntura  his 
destination  was  that  section  of  the  llockv  Mountains 
wliich  includes  the  lieads  of  Arkansas  liiver,  and  of  the 
opposite  waters  of  the  Califoriua  u'ulf;  and  thenco 
down  tlie  Arkansas  to  I'ent's  fort,  and  liome.  This  was 
his  projected  line  of  return — a  great  part  of  it  abso- 
lutely new  to  geograpliical,  botanical,  and  geological 
science — and  the  subject  of  eiulless  rumors  of  lakes, 
rivers,  deserts,  and  savages  hardly  above  the  condition 
of  wild  animals,  all  tending  to  inllame  iiis  curiosity  and 
love  of  adventure  to  its  highest  j^itch. 

It  was  a  serious  enterprise,  at  the  commencement  of 
winter,  to  undertake  the  passage  of  such  a  region,  and 
M'ith  a  party  consisting  only  of  twenty-five  persons,  and 
they  of  many  nations — American,  French,  German, 
Canadian,  Indian,  and  colored — and  most  of  them 
young,  sevei-al  of  them  being  under  twenty-one  years 
of  age.  All  knew  that  a  strange  countiy  was  to  bo 
explored,  and  <langers  and  hardships  to  bo  encountered ; 
but  no  one  blenched  at  the  prospect.  On  the  contrary, 
courage    and    confidence    animated    the   whole    party. 


ii:^ 


ot 


i.iin  AND  sruviri:!^  of  .foiix  o.  riirMoxT. 


I 


f  1 


( 'li('(M*riilM(>ss,  readiness,  siil»<>nliii!ition,  jirotiipt  (tbedi- 
eiiee,  eliariicterized  all;  i!<»r  did  any  extn'iiiiiy  ot"  jti'ril 
<»r  j>rivation,  to  wliieh  I  hey  wi-re  at'lerwards  expoM'd, 
nays  Mr.  I'Veiiiont,  eviT  Ixdie,  or  den»uate  iVoiii,  llio 
line  hjiirit  of  this  hrave  and  <;eiieroUs  coiiiiiieiiei'ineiit. 

lie  was  not  j»ei'nntted  to  execute  this  plan  j)reeisely 
.MS  he  had  mai'ked  it  ont  ;  hii!  we  must  refer  to  his 
oilh'ial  report,  those;  who  wish  t(»  know  how  lie  was  t'oreed 
]»y  (h'si'rt  i)laiiis  and  mountain  raui^es,  and  deej*  snows, 
I'ar  to  the  south,  and  aloni:;  the  we>U'i'n  ha^e  of  the 
(Sierra  N I' vada  ;  where,  indee<l,  a  new  and  ample  fudd  of 
ex])loration  opened  itself  Ixforu  liim.  Tiie  readi-r  will 
l)e  ahle  to  ioi'm  u  tolerahly  sati>faetorv  idea  (»f  tho 
Ijurdships  endured  by  him  and  his  heroical  party 
(Inriui::  the  eleven  months  that  he  was  stru«'>iiin<''  for  a. 
]>assa^'e  over  the  mountains,  hy  a  few  extracts  iVom 
his  jiuirnal  for  the  months  of  January,  February,  aiul 
March,  which  are  here  submitted.  jS'o  one  can  rise 
from  the  jterusal  of  them  without  feelin*:^  that  the 
jiowers  of  human  endurance  had  never  been  no  fully 
tested  before. 


,1    -i; 


i.    !■;    ; 


'"''January  2S(h. — To-day  wo  went  tlir-""'!;!!  nio  pa^^s  with  all 
the  (';nii|»,  and,  at'tcr  a  hard  day's  journey  of  twelve  mile*, 
eucaniiu'd  on  a  liio'li  point  where  the  snow  liaij  been  lilown  otf, 
and  the  exposed  grass  afforded  a  scanty  jiastnre  for  tiui  animals. 
Snow  and  broken  eountiy  toi;ether  made  our  travellini;-  liiflieult. 
We  were  often  eoinj)t'lled  to  make  lari^^o  circuits,  and  asctuid  the 
liii^liest  and  most  exposed  ridges  in  oi'ik;r  to  avoid  snow,  wlii(dx 
in  otJK'r  places  was  hanked  \\y>  to  a  great  depth.     *        *        * 

'* 'l"o-ni<rlit  we  did  not  succeed  in  o'ettinu'  die  howitzer  into 
camp.  Tliis  vas  the  most  lahorious  day  we  had  yet  passed 
through,  the  steep  ascents  and  deep  snow  exhausting  both  niea 


M-  u 


sr.co.vn  Kxri-onrxa  ExriinrnoN. 


f'.-i 


ISO 


all 

;.ls. 
ult. 
the 
ich 

iito 

iea 


and  atiituals.  ( iiir  siii«,de  clirotioiiii'ifr  had  stoppod  tluriiiij;  the 
(lav,  aiiil  its  «'i'ior  in  linn'  oicasiDiK.'iJ  iht;  ln>s  of  an  cfliiiso  of  a 
8at«'llilc  this  (;vt'nin;,^  It  ha^l  not  j.itfscrvL'd  llio  rate  with  wliitdi 
wo  slarti'd  from  iht-  Oallcs,  and  this  will  arcoimt  f<»r  the  ah>cnco 
of  lonn^itiidoH  aloiitr  this  intt-ival  of  our  jomiioy. 

^*Ji(nuary  2'jfh. — Several  hniians  appeared  dii  the  hiilsido, 
reconnnitriiiL;  the  camp,  and  were  imhiiM-d  to  louu!  in  ;  oilu-rs 
came  in  diiiin'^^  the  aft'-rnonn  ;  and  in  ihti  eveniii'^  we  held  a 
coniuil.  The  linlians  immcdiatclv  niadu  it  dear  that  the  waters 
on  which  W""^  were,  also  belong  to  the  (Ircat  Uasin,  in  the  ed'^e 
of  which  we  had  been  since  the  17th  of  Decendter;  and  it 
becuino  evident  that  we  had  still  the  irreat  riilLfe  on  the  loft  to 
cross  before  we  could  reach  the  racitlc  waters. 

*'  We  explained  to  the  Indians  that  we  were  oiuleavoring  {o 
find  a  j)assat;e  ai-ross  the  mountains  into  the  country  of  the  whites, 
■whom  we  were  ijuinrr  to  see ;  ami  t<»ld  them  that  we  wished  them 
to  bring  us  a  guide,  to  whom  W(i  would  give  |)resent9  of  scarlet 
cloth,  and  other  articles,  which  were  shown  to  th»Mn.  They 
looketl  at  the  reward  we  oll'ered,  and  conferreil  with  ea(di  other, 
but  i)ointed  to  the  snow  on  the  mountains,  ami  drew  their  Iianda 
across  their  neck  anil  raised  them  above  their  lu;ads,  to  show 
the  depth  :  and  signilied  that  it  was  imjiossiWle  for  us  to  get 
throtiMfh.  'J'hev  made  sie-ns  that  we  must  <ro  to  the  south- 
ward,  over  a  pass  through  a  lower  range,  which  they  pointed 
out  ;  there,  they  said,  at  the  end  of  one  d.;;y's  travel  we  would 
find  people  who  lived  near  a  pass  in  the  great  mountMin  ;  find  to 
that  jioint  they  engaged  to  furnish  us  a  guide.  They  appeared 
to  have  a  confused  idea,  from  report,  of  whites  who  lived  on  the 
other  side  of  the  mountain  ;  and  once,  they  told  us,  about  two 
years  ago,  a  party  of  twelve  men  like  ourselves,  had  ascended 
their  rivei',  and  crossed  to  the  other  waters.  They  pointed  out 
to  us  where  they  had  crossed;  but  then,  thev  said,  it  was  sum- 
mer  time;  but  now  it  would  be  impossible.  *  *  * 

"The  Imlians  brought  in  during  the  evening  an  abundant 
supply  of  pine-nuts,  which  we  traded  from  theio.     When  roasted, 


on 


LITE   AND   SERVICES   OF  JOHN  C.    rRE:\rONT. 


'  i  r 


tlicir  plefis.int  flavor  made  tlicm  an  agreeable  addition  to  our 
now  sc'aiitv  store  of  provisions  vvliicli  were  reduced  to  a  very 
low  elib.  Our  ])riiiripal  stock  was  in  peas,  whiali  it  is  not  neces- 
sary to  say  contain  scai-cely  any  nutriment.  AVe  had  still  a 
little  Hour  left  some  cotlee,  and  a  quantity  of  sugar,  which  I 
reserved  as  a  defence  against  starvation. 

****** 

"The  other  division  of  the  party  did  not  come  in  to-night,  but 
o-ncainpeil  in  the  u]>per  meadow,  and  arrived  the  next  morning. 
Thcv  liad  not  succeeded  in  trettino;  the  liowitzer  bevond  the  place 
m»-ntioned,  and  where  it  had  been  left  by  M".  Preussin  obedience 
to  my  orders;  and,  in  anticipation  of  the  snow-banks  and  snow- 
fields  still  ahead,  foreseeing  the  inevitable  detention  to  which  it 
would  subject  us,  I  reluctantly  determined  to  leave  it  there  for 
the  time.  It  was  of  tlie  kind  invented  by  tiie  French  for  the 
mountain  part  of  their  war  in  Algiers;  and  the  distance  it  had 
come  witli  us  proved  how  well  it  was  adapted  to  its  purpose. 
We  left  it,  to  the  great  sorrow  of  the  whole  party,  who  were 
grieved  to  part  with  a  companion  which  had  made  the  whole  dis- 
tance from  St.  Louis,  and  commanded  respect  for  us  on  some 
critical  evasions,  and  which  might  be  needed  for  the  same  pur- 
pose again. 

'"'■  Jduaarij  30. — Our  guide,  who  was  a  young  man,  joined  us 
this  morning;  and  leaving  our  encampment  late  in  the  day,  we 
descended  the  river.  *  *  *  * 

"  With  our  late  start  we  made  but  ten  miles,  and  encamped  on 
the  lower  river  bottom,  where  there  was  no  snow,  but  a  great 
deal  of  ice ;  and  we  cut  piles  of  long  grass  to  lay  under  our 
blankets,  and  fires  were  made  of  large  dry  willows,  groves  of 
which  wooded  the  stream.  *  *  *  * 

"  January  31. — We  took  our  way  over  a  fjentlv  risinsf  cfround, 
the  dividing  ridge  being  tolerably  low  ;  and  travelling  easily 
along  a  broad  trail,  in  twelve  or  fourteen  miles  reached  the 
upper  {lart  of  the  pass ;  when  it  began  to  snow  thickly,  with 
verv  cold   weather.     The  Indians  had   onlv  tlie  usual   scanty 


6KC0ND   EXPLORING   EXPEDITION. 


97 


US 

Nve 

on 
roat 
our 

of 


covering,  and  appeared  to  sufter  greatly  from  tli-e  cold.  All  left 
us,  ex('e})t  our  guide.  Half  hidden  by  the  storm,  the  mountains 
looked  dreary ;  and,  as  night  began  to  approacii,  the  guide 
showed  great  reluctance  to  go  forward.  I  placed  him  between 
two  rilles,  for  the  wav  began  to  bo  dillicult.  Travelling  a  little 
further,  we  struck  a  ravine,  which  the  Indian  said  would  con- 
duct us  to  the  rivc'i  and  as  the  poor  fellow  suffered  greatly, 
shivering  in  the  snow  which  fell  upon  his  naked  skin,  I  would 
not  detain  him  any  longer;  and  he  ran  off  to  the  mountain, 
where  he  said  there  was  a  hut  near  by.  He  had  kept  the  blue 
and  scarlet  cloths  I  had  given  him  tightly  rolled  up,  preferring 
rather  to  endure  the  cold  than  to  get  them  wet.  In  the  course 
of  the  afternoon,  one  of  the  men  had  bis  foot  frost-bitten ;  and 
about  dark  we  had  the  satisfaction  to  reach  the  bottoms  of  a 
stream  timbered  with  large  ti'ees,  among  which  we  found  a 
sheltered  camp,  with  an  abundance  of  such  grass  as  the  season 
aflforded  for  the  animals. 

"  We  had  scarcely  lighted  our  fires,  when  the  camp  was 
crowded  with  nearly  naked  Indians ;  some  of  them  were  furnished 
with  long  nets  in  addition  to  bows,  and  appeared  to  have  been 
out  on  the  sage  hills  to  hunt  rabbits.  These  nets  Vvere  perhaps 
thirty  to  forty  feet  long,  kept  upright  in  the  ground  by  slight 
sticks  at  intervals,  and  were  made  from  a  kind  of  wild  hemp, 
very  much  resembling  in  manufacture  those  common  among  the 
Indians  of  the  Sacramento  valley.  They  came  among  us  without 
any  fear,  and  scattered  themselves  about  the  fires,  mainly- 
occupied  in  gi-atifying  their  astonishment.  I  was  struck  by  the 
singular  appearance  of  a  row  of  about  a  dozen,  who  were  sitting 
on  their  haunches  perched  on  a  log  near  end  of  the  fires,  with 
their  quick  sharp  eyes  following  every  motion. 

"  We  gathered  together  a  few  of  the  most  intelligent  of  the 
Indians,  and  held  this  evening  an  interesting  council.  I  explained 
to  them  ray  intentions.  I  told  them  that  we  had  come  from  a 
very  far  country,  having  been  travelling  now  nearly  a  year,  and 
that  we  were  desirous  simply  to  go  acro,-4s  the  mountain  into  the 


'I      u 


h'l 


W       i] 


m 


08 


LIFE   AXD    SKRVICES   OP   JOHN   C.    FRKMONT. 


tJ   ."■ 


country  of  the  other  whites.  There  were  two  who  appeared 
particularly  intelligent — one,  a  somewhat  okl  man.  He  told 
me  that,  before  the  sri.-  tell,  it  was  six  sleeps  to  the  place  where 
the  whites  lived,  hut  tiiat  now  it  was  impossible  to  cross  the 
mountain  on  account  of  the  deep  snow  ;  and  showing  us,  as  the 
others  had  done,  that  it  was  over  our  lieads,  he  urged  us  strongly 
to  follow  the  course  of  the  river,  which  he  said  would  (conduct 
us  to  a  lake  in  which  thei'e  were  many  large  fish,  lliere,  he 
said,  were  many  people  ;  there  was  no  snow  on  the  ground  ;  and 
we  n)ight  remain  there  until  the  spring. 

"  P'rou)  their  descriptions,  we  were  enabled  to  judge  that  we 
had  encamped  on  the  upper  waters  of  the  Salmon  Trout  Kiver. 
It  is  hardly  necessary  to  say  that  our  oomnmnication  was  otdy 
by  signs,  as  we  understood  nothing  of  their  language ;  but  they 
spoke,  notwithstanding,  rapidly  and  vehemently,  explaining  what 
thev  considered  the  follv  of  our  intentions,  and  urginj;  us  to  yo 
down  to  the  lake.  Tah-ve^  a  word  signifying  snow,  we  very 
soon  learned  to  know,  from  its  frequent  repetition.  I  told  him 
that  the  men  and  the  horses  were  strong,  and  that  we  A-ould 
break  a  road  through  the  snow  ;  and  spreading  before  him  our 
bales  of  scarlet  cloth,  and  trinkets,  showed  him  what  we  would 
give  for  a  guide.  It  was  necessary  to  obtain  one,  if  possible, 
for  I  had  determined  here  to  attempt  the  passage  of  the  moun- 
tain. Pulling  a  bunch  of  grass  from  the  ground,  after  a  short 
dis  ussion  among  themselves,  the  old  man  made  us  comprehend, 
that  if  we  could  bi-eak  through  the  snow,  at  the  end  of  three 
days  we  would  come  down  upon  grass,  which  he  showed  us 
Avould  be  about  six  inches  high,  and  where  the  ground  was 
entirely  free.  So  far,  he  said,  he  had  been  in  hunting  for  elk ; 
but  beyond  that  (and  he  closed  his  eyes)  he  had  seen  nothing ; 
but  there  was  one  among  them  who  had  been  to  the  whites, 
and,  going  out  of  the  lodge,  he  returned  with  a  young  man  of 
very  intelligent  appearance.  Here,  said  he,  is  a  young  man  who 
has  seen  the  whites  with  his  own  eyes;  and  he  swore,  first  by 
the  sky,  and  then  by  the  ground,  that  what  he  said  was  true. 


m 


SECOND    EXPLORTNO    EXPEDITION. 


99 


Witb  a  large  present  of  goods,  we  prevailed  upor  this  young 
man  to  he  our  guide,  and  he  acquired  among  us  the  name  Melo 
— a  word  signifying  friend,  which  they  used  very  frequently. 
He  was  thinly  clad,  and  nearly  barefoot ;  Ids  moccasins  being 
about  worn  out.  We  gave  him  skins  to  make  a  new  pair,  and 
to  enable  him  to  perform  his  undertaking  to  us.  The  Indians 
remained  in  the  camp  during  the  night,  and  we  kept  the  guide 
and  two  others  to  sleep  in  the  lodge  with  us — Carson  lying 
across  the  door,  and  havino;  made  them  eonr,rehend  the  use  of 
our  fire-arms.  The  snow,  which  had  intermitted  in  the  evening, 
comm.enced  falling  again  in  the  course  of  the  night,  and  it 
snowed  steadily  all  day. 

"  In  the  morning  I  acquainted  the  men  with  my  decision,  and 
explained  to  tliem  that  necessity  required  us  to  make  a  great 
eftbrt  to  clear  the  mountains.  I  reminded  them  of  the  beautiful 
valley  of  the  Sacramento,  wich  which  they  were  familiar  from 
the  descriptions  of  Carson,  who  had  been  there  some  fifteen 
years  ago,  and  who,  in  our  lute  privations,  had  delighted  us  in 
speaking  of  its  rich  pastures  and  abounditig  game,  and  drew  a 
vivid  contrast  between  its  summer  climate,  less  than  a  hundred 
miles  distant,  and  the  falling  snow  around  us.  1  informed  them 
(and  long  experience  had  given  them  confidence  in  my  observa- 
tions and  good  instruments)  that  almost  directly  .vest,  and  only 
about  seventy  miles  distant,  was  the  great  farming  establishment 
of  Captain  Sutter — a  gentleumn  who  had  formerly  lived  in  Mis- 
souri, and,  emigrating  to  this  country,  had  become  the  possessor 
of  a  principality.  I  asrured  them  that,  from  the  heights  of  the 
mountains  before  us,  we  should  doubtless  see  the  valley  of  the 
Sacramento  River,  and  with  one  eftort  place  ourselves  again  in 
the  midst  of  plenty.  The  people  received  this  decision  with  the 
cheerful  obedience  which  had  always  characterized  them;  and 
tlie  day  was  immediately  devoted  to  the  preparations  necessary 
to  enable  us  to  carry  it  into  effect.  Leggings,  moccasins, 
clothing — all  were  put  into  the  best  state  to  resist  the  cold. 
Our  guide  was  not  neglected.      Extremity  of  suiferiug  might 


m 


•  i 


i^ 


II,' 


1;, 


I. 

3m  .fi 


11 


I 


^ 


IS: 


I' 


:.|ii 


M^ 


100 


LIFE   AND    SEKYK'I':S   OF   .lOlIN   C.    FKEMONT. 


make  him  depcrt :  we  tliorcfore  did  tlie  best  we  could  for  liim. 
L('<rgi?igs,  moccasins,  so:iie  articles  of  clotliing.  and  a  large  green 
blaidcet,  in  addition  to  the  blue  and  scarlet  cloth,  were  lavished 
\i])on  him,  an<l  to  Ids  great  and  evident  contentment.  He 
arrayed  himself  in  all  his  colors ;  and  clad  in  green,  blue,  and 
scarlet,  he  made  a  gay-looking  Indian ;  and  with  his  vai'ious 
presents,  was  probably  richer  and  better  clothed  than  any  of  his 
tribe  had  ever  been  before. 

"  I  have  already  said  that  our  provisions  were  very  low ;  we 
had  neither  tallow  nor  grease  of  any  kind  remaining,  and  the 
want  of  salt  became  one  of  our  greatest  privations.  The  poor 
dog,  which  had  been  found  in  the  Bear  River  Valley,  and  which 
l]ad  been  a  compagnon  de  voyage  ever  since,  had  now  become 
fat,  and  the  mess  to  whiith  it  belonged  requested  permission  to 
kill  it.  Leave  was  granted.  Spread  out  on  the  snow,  the  meat 
looked  very  good ;  and  it  made  a  strengthening  meal  for  the 
greater  part  of  the  camp.      Indians  brought  in  two  or  three 

rabbits  during  the  day,  which  were  purchased  from  them. 
9|C  *  H<  ^  ^  ^ 

^'February  4. — I  went  ahead  early  with  two  or  three  men, 
each  with  a  led  horse,  to  break  the  road.  We  were  obliged  to 
abandon  the  hollow  entirelv,  and  work  alonjx  the  mountain  side,  * 
which  \\as  very  steep,  and  the  snow  covered  with  an  icy  crust. 
AYe  cut  a  footing  as  we  advanced,  aiid  trampled  a  road  through 
for  the  animals;  but  occasionally  one  plunged  outside  the  trail, 
and  slid  along  the  field  to  the  bottom,  a  hundred  yards  below. 

"Towards  a  pass  which  the  guide  indicated  here,  we  attempted 
in  the  afternoon  to  force  a  road;  but  after  a  laborious  pluuiTfinir 
through  two  or  three  hundred  yards,  our  best  horses  gave  out, 
entirely  refusing  to  make  any  further  effort ;  and,  for  the  time, 
we  were  brought  to  a  stand.  The  guide  informed  us  that  we 
■were  entering  the  deep  snow,  and  here  began  the  difficulties  of 
the  mountain ;  and  to  him,  and  almost  to  all,  our  enterprise 
seemed  hopeless.  I  returned  a  short  distance  back,  to  the  break 
in  the  hollow,  where  I  met  Mr.  Fitzpatrick. 


SFX'OND    EXl'I.OlilXa    KXPICDITION. 


101 


"The  camp  liacl  been  .all  the  day  occupied  in  endeavorinor  to 
ascend  the  hill,  but  only  the  best  horses  had  succeeded ;  the 
animals,  generally,  not  havin<^^  sullicient  strenoth  to  bring  them- 
selves up  without  the  packs;  and  all  the  lino  of  road  between 
this  and  the  springs  was  strewed  with  camjj  stores  and  equipage, 
and  horses  Houndering  in  snow. 

"  To  night  we  had  no  shelter,  but  we  made  a  large  fire  around 
the  trunk  of  one  of  the  huge  pines ;  and  covering  the  snow  with 
small  boughs  on  which  we  spread  our  blankets,  soon  made  our- 
selves comfortable.  The  night  was  very  1  Aght  and  clear,  though 
the  thermometer  was  only  at  10°.  A  strong  wind,  which 
sprang  up  at  sundown,  made  it  intensely  cold,  and  this  was  one 
of  the  bitterest  nights  during  the  journey. 

"  Two  Indians  joined  our  party  here  ;  and  one  of  them,  an  old 
man,  immediat(.'lv  beo-an  to  harano-ue  us,  saving  that  ourselves 
and  animals  would  perish  in  the  snow ;  and  that  if  wo  would  go 
back,  he  "would  show  us  another  and  a  better  way  across  tho 
mountain,  lie  spoke  in  a  very  loud  voice,  and  there  was  a  sin- 
gula*' repe'ition  of  phrases  and  arrangement  of  words,  which 
rendered  his  speech  striking,  and  not  unmusical. 

"  We  had  now  begun  to  understand  some  words,  and,  with  the 
aid  of  signs,  easily  comprehended  the  old  man's  simple  idea. 
'Rock  upon  rock — rock  upon  rock — snow  upon  snow — snow 
upon  snow,'  said  he;  'even  if  you  get  over  the  snow,  you  will 
not  be  able  to  get  down  from  the  mountains.'  He  made  us  the 
sign  of  precipices,  and  showed  us  how  the  feet  of  the  horses  would 
slip,  and  throw  them  oft'  from  the  narrow  trails  which  led  along 
their  sides.  Our  Chinook,  vho  comprehended  even  more  readily 
than  ourselves,and  believed  our  situation  hopeless,  covered  his  head 
with  his  blanket,  and  began  to  weep  and  lament.  '  I  wanted  to 
see  the  whites,'  said  he  ;  '  I  came  away  from  my  own  peo]>le  to  see 
the  whites,  and  I  woukln't  care  to  die  among  them  ;  but  here' — 
and  he  looked  around  in  the  cold  night  and  gloomy  forest,  and 
drawinof  ]ns  blanket  over  his  head,  beijan  again  to  lament. 

"Seated  around  the  tree,  the  tire  illuminating  the  rocks  and  the 


ii  ■    II? 


';  ! 


|^(  fl 


102 


LIFE   AND   SERVICES   OF  JOHN   0.    Fia::M(»NT- 


!!     I 


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tall  boles  of  the  pines  round  about,  and  the  old  Indian  harangu- 
ing,  wo  presented  a  e;roup  of  very  serimis  faces. 

"  February  5. — The  night  had  been  too  cold  to  sleep,  and  we 
were  up  very  early.  Our  guide  was  standing  by  the  tire,  with  all 
his  finery  on :  and  peeing  him  shiver  in  the  cold  I  threw  on  his 
shoulders  one  of  my  blankets.  We  missed  him  a  few  minutes 
afterwards,  and  never  saw  him  again.  He  had  deserted.  His 
bad  faith  and  treaxihery  were  in  perfect  keeping  with  the  estimate 
of  Indian  character,  which  a  long  intercourse  with  this  people 
had  gradually  forced  upon  my  mind.         *         *         * 

"  February  23. — This  was  our  most  difficult  day  ;  we  were 
forced  oft'  the  ridges  by  the  quantity  of  snow  among  the  timber, 
and  obliged  to  take  to  the  mountain  side,  where  occasionally 
rocks  and  a  southern  exposure  aitbrded  us  a  chance  to  scramble 
along.  But  these  were  steep,  and  slippery  with  snow  and  ice, 
and  the  tough  evergreens  of  the  mountains  impeded  our  way, 
tore  our  skins,  and  exhausted  our  patience.  Some  of  us  had  the 
misfortune  t*^  wear  moccasins  with  parfteche  soles,  so  slippery  tJiat 
we  could  not  keep  our  feet,  and  generally  crawled  across  the 
snow  beds.  Axes  and  mauls  were  necessary  here  to-day,  to 
make  a  road  through  the  snow.  Going  aheatl  with  Carson  to 
reconnoitre  the  road,  we  reached  in  the  afternoon  the  river 
whioli  made  tlie  outlet  of  the  lake.  Carson  sprang  over,  clear 
across  a  place  where  the  stream  was  compressed  among  the 
rocks,  but  the  parjleche  sole  of  my  moccasin  glanced  from  the 
icy  rock,  and  precipitated  me  into  the  river.  It  was  some  few 
seconds  before  I  "ould  recover  myself  in  the  current,  and  Carson, 
thinking  me  hurt,  jumped  in  after  me,  and  we  both  had  an  icy 
bath.  We  tried  to  search  awhile  for  my  gun,  whi(;h  had  been 
lost  in  the  fall,  but  the  cold  drove  us  out ;  and  makinnr  a  larffe 
fire  on  the  bank,  after  we  had  partially  diied  ourselves,  we  went 
back  to  meet  the  camp.  We  afterwards  found  that  the  gun  had 
been  slung  under  the  ice  which  lined  the  banks  of  the  creek. 

"  February  24. — We  rose  at  three  in  the  morning,  for  an  astro- 
nomical observation,  and  obtained  for  the  place  a  latitude  of  38° 


SECOND   EXPLORING   EXPEDITION. 


103 


46'  58",  longitude  120°  34'  20".  The  sky  was  clear  and  pure, 
with  a  sliHrp  wind  tVoni  tlio  northeast,  and  the  thermoiuetor  two 
degrees  below   the  freezing  point.  *  *  * 

"  Another  horse  was  killed  to-night,  for  food.  * 

"  My  favorite  horse.  Proveau,  had  heconie  very  weak,  and  was 
scarcely  able  to  bring  himself  to  the  top.  I  left  Jacob  to  bring 
bim  on,  being  obliged  to  press  forward  with  the  party,  as  there 
was  no  grass  in  the  forest.  We  grew  very  anxious  as  the  day 
advanced  and  no  grass  appeared,  for  the  lives  of  our  animals  de- 
pended on  finding  it  to-night.  They  were  in  just  such  a  condi- 
tion that  grass  and  repose  for  the  night  enabled  them  to  get  on 
the  next  dav. 

'■'"February  29. — We  lay  shut  np  in  the  narrow  ravine,  and 
gave  the  animals  a  necessniy  day ;  and  men  were  sent  bar;k  after 
the  others.  Derosier  volunteered  to  bring  np  Proveau,  to  whom 
he  knew  I  was  greatly  attached,  as  he  had  been  my  favorite 
horse  on  both  expeditions.  Carson  and  I  climbed  one  of  the 
nearest  mountains;  the  forest  land  still  extended  a^-.ead,  and  the 
valley  appe.-ired  as  far  as  ever.  The  pack  horse  was  found  near 
the  camp,  but  Derosier  did  not  get  in.  *  * 

*'  We  began  to  be  uneasy  at  Derosier's  absence,  fearing  that 
he  miyht  have  been  bewildered  in  the  woods.  Charles  Towns, 
who  had  not  yet  recovered  his  mind,  went  to  swim  in  the  river, 
as  if  it  were  summer,  and  the  stream  placid,  when  it  was  a  cold 
mountain  torrent  foaming  among  rocks.  We  were  happy  to 
see  Dei'osier  appear  in  the  evening.  He  came  in,  and,  sitting 
down  by  the  fire,  began  to  tell  us  where  he  had  been.  He 
imagined  that  he  had  been  gone  several  days,  and  thought  we 
were  still  at  the  cimp  where  he  had  left  us;  and  we  were  pained 
to  see  that  his  mind  was  deranged.  It  appeared  that  he  had 
been  lost  in  the  mountain,  and  hunger  and  fatigue,  joined  to 
weakness  of  body,  and  fear  of  perishing  in  the  mountains  had 
crazed  him.  The  times  were  severe  when  stout  men  lost  their 
minds  from  extremity  of  suffering — when  horses  died — and 
when  mules  and  horses,  ready  to  die  of  starvation,  were  killed 
for  food.     Yet  there  was  no  murmuring  or  hesitation. 


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LIFE   AND    Si:itVICE8   OK   .lOiJN    C.    IHKMONT. 


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"  A  sliort  distance  below  our  encainj)inent  the  river  mountains 
terminated  in  precipices,  and,  after  a  tatiiiniitit,^  march  of  only 
a  tew  miles  we  encamped  on  a  bench  where  were  sj)rings  and 
an  abundance  of  the  freshest  i>-i'ass.  In  the  meantime  Mr.  I'reuss 
continued  on  down  the  river,  and,  unaware  tliat  weliad  encamped 
so  early  in  the  day,  was  lost.  AVhcn  nioht  arrived,  and  lie  did 
not  come  in,  we  bep^an  to  understand  what  had  hai)})ened  to 
Lim  ;  but  it  was  too  late  to  make  any  searcli. 

"  March  3. — We  followed  Mr.  Treuss's  trail  for  a  considerable 
distance  alono;  tlie  river,  until  wo  reached  a  place  where  ho  had 
descended  to  the  stream  below  and  encamped.  Here  we  shouted 
and  fired  c^uns,  but  received  no  answer;  and  we  concluded  that 
he  had  pushed  on  down  the  stream.  I  determined  to  keep  out 
from  the  river,  along-  which  it  was  nearly  impracticable  to  travel 
with  animals,  until  it  should  form  a  valley.  * 

"  We  repeated  our  shouts  for  Mr.  I'reuss ;  and  this  time  we 
"were  gratilied  with  an  answer.  The  voice  grew  rapidly  nearer, 
ascending  from  the  river;  but  when  wo  expected  to  see  him 
emerge,  it  ceased  entirely.  We  had  called  up  some  straggling 
Indian — the  lirst  wo  had  met.  althouuh  for  two  days  back  we 
had  seen  tracks — who,  mistaking  us  for  liis  fellows,  had  been 
only  undeceived  on  getting  close  up.  Igrlbrant  of  the  character 
of  the  people,  we  had  now  an  additional  cause  of  uneasiness  in 
regard  to  Mr.  Preuss ;  he  had  no  arms  with  him,  and  we  began 
to  think  his  chance  doubtful. 

*'  The  mountains  now  were  getting  sensibly  lower ;  but  still 
tliere  is  no  valley  on  the  river,  which  presents  steep  and  rocky 
bf.nks ;  but  here,  several  miles  from  the  river,  the  country  is 
smootli  .Mpd  grassy ;  the  forest  has  no  undergrowth;  and  in  the 
open  valleys  or  rivulels,  or  around  spring  heads,  the  low  groves 
of  live  oak  give  the  appearance  of  orchards  in  an  old  cultivated 
country.  At  one  of  these  orchard  grounds,  we  encam[)ed  about 
noon  to  make  an  eftbrt  for  Mr.  Preuss.  One  man  took  his  way 
along  a  spur  leading  into  the  river,  in  hope  to  cross  his  trail ; 
and  another  took  our  own  back.  Both  were  volunteers;  and  to 
the    successful  man  was  ])romised  a   pair  of  pistols — not  as  a 


SECOND   KXrLORINO    KXPKDITION. 


105 


reward,  but  as  a  token  of  gratitude  for  a  service  which  would 
free  us  all  from  uuich  anxiety. 

"  We  had  among  our  few  animals  a  horse  which  was  so 
much  reduced,  that  \nth  travelling,  even  the  good  grass  could 
not  save  him  :  and,  havinsjf  nothiiiuf  to  oat,  he  was  killed  this 
afternoon,  lie  was  a  good  animal,  and  had  made  the  journey 
round  from  Fort  llall.         ****** 

"  The  absence  of  Mr.  Preuss  gave  me  great  concern ;  and,  for 
a  largo  reward,  Derosier  volunieered  to  go  baitk  on  the  trail.  I 
directed  him  to  search  along  the  river,  travelling  upward  for  tho 
space  of  a  day  and  a  half,  at  which  time  I  expected  he  would 
meet  Mr.  Fitzpatrick,  whom  I  requested  to  aid  in  the  search ;  at 
all  events  he  was  to  go  no  further,  but  return  to  this  camp,  where 
a  cache  of  provisions  was  made  for  him. 

"  Continuing  the  next  day  down  the  river,  we  discovered  three 
squaws  in  a  little  bottom,  and  surrounded  them  before  they  could 
make  their  escape.  They  had  large  conical  baskets  which  they 
were  engaged  in  filling  with  a  small  leafy  plant,  (erodium  cicuta- 
rium)  just  now  beginning  to  bloom,  and  covering  the  ground  like 
a  sward  of  grass.  They  did  not  make  any  lamentations,  but 
appeared  very  much  impressed  with  our  appearance,  speaking 
to  us  only  in  a  whisper,  and  offering  us  smaller  baskets  of  tho 
plant,  which  they  signified  to  us  was  good  to  eat,  making  signs 
also  that  it  was  to  be  cooked  by  the  fire.  We  drew  out  a  little 
cold  horse  meat,  and  the  squaws  made  signs  to  us  that  the  men 
had  gone  out  after  deer,  and  that  we  could  have  some  by  wait- 
ing till  they  came  in.  We  observed  that  the  horses  ate  with 
great  avidity  the  herb  which  they  had  been  gathering;  and  here 
also  for  the  first  time,  we  saw  Indians  eat  the  common  grass — 
one  of  the  squaws  pulling  several  tufts,  and  eating  it  with  appa- 
rent relish.  Seeing  our  surprise,  she  pointed  to  the  horses ;  but 
we  could  not  well  understand  what  she  meant,  except,  perhaps, 

that  what  was  good  for  the  one  was  good  for  the  other. 
******** 

"Towards  evening  we  heard  a  weak  shout  among  the  hills 

5* 


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LIFE   AJfU   SKRVICK3   OF   JOHN    C.    FliEMONT. 


r:  11 


behind,  and  had  tho  pleasure  to  see  Mr.  PrtMhss  decending 
towards  tho  camp.  Like  ours(»Ivos,  lie  liad  travelled  to-day 
twcMty-fivo  miles,  but  had  seen  nothing  of  Dcrosier.  Knowing, 
on  the  <lay  he  was  lost,  that  1  was  determined  to  keep  the  river 
as  much  as  possible,  he  had  not  thought  it  necessary  to  follow 
the  trail  very  closely,  but  walked  on,  right  and  left,  certain  to 
find  it  somewhere  along  the  river,  searching  places  to  obtain 
good  views  of  the  country.  Towards  sunset  he  climbed  down 
towards  the  river  to  look  for  the  camp ;  but,  finding  no  trail, 
concluded  that  we  were  behind,  and  walked  back  until  night 
came  on,  when,  being  very  much  fatigued,  he  collected  drift 
wood  and  made  a  large  fire  among  the  rocks.  The  next  day  it 
became  more  serious,  and  he  encamped  again  alone,  thinking 
that  we  must  have  taken  some  other  course.  To  go  back  would 
have  been  madness  in  his  weak  and  starved  condition,  and 
onward  towards  the  valley  was  his  only  hope,  always  in  expec- 
tation of  reaching  it  soon.  His  principal  means  of  subsistence 
was  a  few  roots,  which  the  hunters  call  sweet  onions,  liaving 
very  little  taste,  but  a  good  deal  of  nutriment,  growing  generally 
in  rocky  ground,  and  requiring  a  good  deal  of  labor  to  get,  as 
he  had  only  a  pocket  knife.  Searching  for  these,  lie  found 
a  nest  of  big  ants,  which  he  let  run  on  his  hand,  and  stripped 
tliem  otl'  in  his  mouth  ;  these  had  an  agreeable  acid  taste.  One 
of  his  greatest  privations  was  the  want  of  tobacco  ;  and  a 
pleasant  smoke  at  evening  would  have  been  a  rcdief  w"'  ich 
only  a  voyageur  could  appreciate.  He  tried  the  dried  leaves 
of  the  live  oak,  knowing  that  those  of  other  oaks  were  some- 
times used  as  a  substitute ;  but  these  were  too  thick,  and  would 
not  do.  On  the  4th  he  made  seven  or  eight  miles,  \  ilking 
slowly  along  the  river,  avoiding  as  much  as  possible  to  climb 
the  hills.  In  little  pools  he  caught  some  of  the  smallest  kind  of 
frogs,  which  he  swallowed,  not  so  much  in  the  gratification  of 
Lunger,  as  in  the  hope  of  obtaining  some  strength.  Scattered 
along  the  river  were  old  fire-places,  where  the  Indians  had 
roasted  muscles  and  acorns ;  but  though  he  searched  diligently, 


BECC.VD    EXPLCRTNO    EXPFDITION. 


107 


he  did  not  there  succeed  in  fitxlinff  either,  lie  had  collected 
fire-wood  for  the  iiiu^ht,  when  he  heard  at  some  distance  from 
the  river  the  barkinu;  of  what  he  thoui^ht  were  two  dogs,  and 
walked  in  that  tlire(;tion  as  (inickly  as  lie  was  able,  hopini^  to 
find  there  some  Indian  hut,  but  met  only  two  wolves;  and,  in 
hi?  disappointment,  the  gloom  of  ihe  forest  wfis  doubled. 

"Travelling  the  next  day  feebly  down  the  river,  he  found  five 
or  '^ix  Indians  at  the  huts,  of  which  we  have  s[)oken  ;  some  wero 
pairjting  thciiiselves  black,  and  others  roasting  acorns.  Being 
only  one  man,  they  did  not  run  jtt",  bi.t  received  him  kindly,  and 
gave  him  a  welcome  supply  of  roasted  acorns.  He  gave  tlieni 
his  pocket  knife  in  return,  and  stret<'-hed  out  ids  hand  to  one  of 
the  Indiana,  who  did  not  appear  to  comprehend  the  motion,  but 
jumped  back,  as  if  he  thought  he  was  about  to  lay  hold  of  him. 
They  seemed  afraid  of  him,  not  certain  as  to  what  he  was. 

"Travelling  on  he  came  to  the  place  where  we  had  found  the 
squaws.  Here  he  found  our  fire  still  burning,  and  the  tracks  of 
the  horses.  The  sight  gave  him  sudden  hope  and  courage ;  and, 
following  as  fast  as  he  could,  joined  us  at  evening. 

^  March  6. — We  continued  on  our  road,  through  the  same 
surpassingly  beautiful  country,  entirely  unequalled  for  the  pastu- 
rage of  stock  by  anything  we  had  ever  seen.  In  a  few  hours  we 
reached  a  large  fork,  the  northern  branch  of  the  river,  and  equal 
in  size  to  that  which  we  had  descended.  Together  they  formed 
a  beautiful  stream,  60  to  100  yards  wide,  which  at  first,  ignorant 
of  the  nature  of  the  country  through  which  that  river  ran,  we 
took  to  be  the  Sacramento.  *  *  *  * 

"  We  made  an  acorn  meal  at  noon,  and  hurried  on  ;  the  valley 
being  gay  with  flowers,  and  some  of  the  banks  being  absolutely 
golden  with  the  California  poppy  {eschscholtzia  crocea.)  Ilere 
the  grass  was  smooth  and  green,  and  the  groves  very  open  ;  the 
large  oaks  throwing  a  broad  shade  aniong  sunny  spots.  Shortly 
afterwards  we  gave  a  shout  at  the  apj  eai-ance  on  a  little  bluli"  of 
a  neatly  budt  adobe  house  with  glass  windows.  We  rode  up, 
but,  to  our  disappointment,  found  only  Indians.     There  was  no 


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i.iFF,  Axn  ^rnri(  ^.^^  or  .kmin  c.  Fr:i;MONT. 


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nppr.iranf'o  of  cullivatioo,  .'intl  wo  coiiM  soo  no  rnttio,  nh<l  we 
supposc'd  (liil  fin.'  jilaco  liail  l»i'»'H  ."ilirmtlonod.  We  now  prt'ssocl 
on  Mjorw  caifi'rlv  tli;in  ovor;  tho  river  swept  roiiinl  in  !i  laru'O 
bf'iul  to  till'  riLjIil  ;  tlio  hill  lowered  down  cut ircly ;  and.  uradiially 
r'litcrin"-  a  bioad  vallev,  wo  caiiie  niicxpcftcdlv  into  a  lai'i^o 
Jiidiati  vLllaL'c,  >Nli<-'ro  the  p«'(i|>lt'  looked  clean,  and  wori!  cotton 
s.'iiits  and  varions  other  articles  of  dress.  They  ininieiliately 
crowde'l  ftronnd  us  and  wo  had  tho  inexpressihlo  d«>lieht  to  tuid 
one  who  spoko  u  little  indill'erent  Spanish,  hut  who  at  lirst  con- 
Ibnnded  us  hy  sayinn' tJiero  wore  no  whites  in  theeountiy;  but 
just  then  a  well-dressed  Indian  eaine  up,  and  ni.ido  his  salutations 
in  very  well  spoken  Spanish.  In  answer  to  our  imjuiries,  he 
informed  us  that  we  were  upon  tho  Jiio  tie  Ins  Ainct'icanos  (tho 
river  of  tho  Americans),  and  that  it  joined  the  Sacramento  Uivor 
about  ten  miles  below  1  Never  did  a  namo  sound  more  sweetly* 
We  felt  ourselves  amonij  our  countrymen;  for  tho  name  of 
American,  in  tliose  parts,  is  a])i)Iied  to  tho  citizens  of  the  United 
States.  To  our  eager  iuiiuiries  ho  answered,  'lam  a  vaqucro 
(cow  licrd)  in  tho  service  of  Caj)tain  Sutter,  and  tho  people  of 
this  ranchcria  work  for  liim.'  Our  evident  satisfaction  made  him 
communicative  ;  and  ho  went  on  to  soy  that  Captain  Sutter  was 
a  very  rich  man,  and  always  glad  to  see  his  country  people. 
We  asked  for  his  house,  lie  answered  that  it  was  just  over  tho 
hill  before  us;  and  olleretl,  if  wo  would  wait  a  moment,  to  talc© 
his  horse  and  conduct  us  to  it.  Wo  i  jadily  accepted  liis  civil 
oiler.  In  a  short  distance  wo  came  in  sight  of  the  fort ;  and, 
passing  on  the  way  the  house  of  a  settler  on  the  opposite  side 
(a  Mr.  Sinclair),  we  forded  the  river;  and  in  a  few  miles  were 
met  a  short  distance  from  tho  fort  by  Captain  Sutter  Iiimself; 
lie  gave  us  a  most  frank  and  cordial  reception — conducted  ua 
immediately  to  his  residence — and  under  liis  hospitable  roof  we 
had  a  niglit  of  rest,  enjoyment  and  refreshment,  which  none  but 
ourselves  could  appreciate.  But  the  j)arty  left  in  the  mountains 
with  Mr.  Fitzpatrick  were  to  be  attended  to ;  and  the  next  morn- 
ing, supplied  with  fresli  horses  and  provisions,  I  hurried  off  to 


BF-CONI)    i:XPI,OUIN(»    F,X['f:i»niON. 


100 


moot  thfiTi.     On  llio  spcoml  <l;iv  nv((  met,  ji  f.-w  miles  ln'low  tlio 
forks  of  t'.ic  Uio   do  lo.s    Aim'i'ic.'UioH :  .'iinl    :i  inor*!  forlorn  ami 


iti:il>l< 


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I. 


])in;ii>lt)  sii;iit  Uian  tliey  prcsfiitcti,  fuiiiiot,  well  Im^  imiiL,nn»M 
Tlicy  worn  all  on  foot — viu:h  man,  weak  and  omaciafoil,  Irail- 
\\)<f  a  horse  or  miilo  as  weak  and  umaciutud  as  thcnisoivi's.  Tlu'y 
liatl  <'.\|)<'ric'nc'e<i  n^n.-at,  diUlciilly  in  dcscoiididi;  llus  mountains, 
madu  slijipory  by  rains  and  incltinLj  snows,  and  many  horses  Adl 
over  |tri!('i|>i('('s,  and  were  killed  ;  and  with  somo  were  lost  tho 
2)(ii'k8  they  carried.  Amun<^  these  was  a  mule  with  tho  plants, 
which  wo  had  collected  since  leavini;  Fort  Hall,  alont;  a  liiie  of 
2,000  miles  travel.  Out  of  sixty-seven  horses  and  mulos  with 
which  we  commenced  crossiui^  tho  Sierra,  only  thirty-threo 
reached  tlio  valley  of  tho  Sacramento,  ai\d  they  only  in  a  comli- 
tion  to  bo  led  aloni^. 

"  Mr.  Fitzpatrick  and  his  party,  travelling  more  slowly,  had 
been  able  to  make  some  little  cxertiini  at  huntimjf,  and  had  killed 
a  few  deer.  The  scanty  supply  was  a  great  relief  to  them  ;  for 
several  had  been  made  sick  bv  the  stranuo  an<l  tmwdiolesomo 
food  which  the  [(reservation  of  life  had  compelled  them  to  use. 
AVe  stopped  and  encamped  as  soon  as  wo  mot;  and  a  repast  of 
good  beef,  excellent  bread,  and  delicious  salmon,  which  I  had 
brought  along,  were  tho  first  relief  from  tho  suti'erings  of  the 
Sierra,  and  their  first  introduction  to  tho  luxuries  of  the  Sacra- 
mento. It  required  all  our  philosophy  aiid  forbearance  to  pre- 
vent plenty  from  becoming  as  hurtful  to  us  now,  as  scarcity  had 
been  before." 


•M     Jl 


110 


LIFE   AND   SERVICES   OF   JOHN    C.    FfiEMONT. 


.\f- 


CIIAPTER  yi. 

SECOND     EXPEDITION     CONCLUDFJ) ENCAMP8     AMONG     THE 

DIGGER    INDIANS THEIR     HABITS    AND   CHARACTER MAS- 
SACRE OF   TABEAU RECOVERY  OF    HIS    REMAINS RETURN 

TO  UTAH  LAKE ANALYSIS  OF  THE  RESULTS  OF   THE   EXPE- 
DITION  BY   ITS   COMMANDER. 

After  refresiiing  himself  and  men,  and  procuring  such 
a  stock  of  provisions  as  they  required,  Coh  Fremont 
resumed  his  journey  on  the  2'4th  of  March.  He  pro- 
posed to  avail  himself  of  the  pass  at  the  head  of  the 
San  Joaquin  River,  about  500  miles  south  of  Sutter's 
place,  and  thence  to  cross  the  rim  of  the  Great  Basin, 
so  as  to  reach  the  head  of  the  Arkansas  river  on  the 
opposite  side  of  the  mountains.  In  the  course  of  this 
journey,  he  had  the  misfortune  to  lose  one  of  his  best 
men  among  the  Digger  Indians,  on  the  Rio  de  los 
Angeles,  under  circumstances  peculiarly  distressing. 
His  narrative  first  introduced  this  degraded  race  to  the 
acquaintance  of  civilized  men,  which  is  a  sufficient 
excuse  for  presenting  it  here  again  at  length. 

"May  5. — On  account  of  our  animals,  it  was  necessary  to 
remain  to-day  at  this  place.  Indians  crowded  numerously 
around  us  in  the  morning ;  and  we  were  obliged  to  keep  arma 
in  hand  all  day,  to  keep  them  out  of  the  camp.  They  began  to 
surround  the  liorses,  which,  for  the  convenience  of  grass,  we  were 


^  » 


SECOND   EXPLORmO   EXPEDITION. 


Ill 


guarding  a  little  above,  on  the  river.  These  were  immediately 
driven  in,  and  kept  close  to  the  camp. 

"  In  the  darkness  of  the  ni<;!it  we  had  made  a  verv  bad 
encampment,  our  fires  being  commanded  by  a  rocky  blutF 
within  fifty  yards;  but,  notwithstanding,  we  had  the  river  and 
small  thickets  of  willows  on  the  other  side.  Several  times  durincT 
the  day  the  (tamp  was  insulted  by  the  Indians ;  but,  peace  being 
our  object,  I  kept  simply  on  the  defensive.  Some  of  the  Indians 
were  on  the  bottoms,  and  others  haranguing  us  from  the  blutls; 
and  they  were  scattered  in  -every  direction  over  the  hills.  Their 
language  being  probably  a  dialect  of  the  Utali^  with  the  aid  of 
signs  some  of  our  people  could  comprehend  them  very  well. 
They  were  the  same  people  who  had  murdered  the  Mexicans  ; 
and  towards  us  their  disj)osition  was  evidently  hostile,  nor  were 
we  well  disposed  towards  them.  They  were  barefooted,  and 
nearly  naked:  the*  hair  gathered  up  into  a  knot  behind  ;  and 
with  his  bow,  each  man  carried  a  quiver  with  thirty  or  forty 
arrows  partially  drawn  out.  Besides  these,  each  held  in  his 
hand  two  or  three  arrows  for  instant  service.  Their  arrows  are 
barbed  with  a  very  clear  translucent  stone,  a  species  of  opal, 
nearly  as  hard  as  the  diamond  ;  atid,  shot  from  the  long  bow, 
are  almost  as  effective  as  a  gunshot.  In  these  Indians,  I  was 
forcibly  struck  by  an  expression  of  countenance  resembling  that 
in  a  beast  of  prey  ;  and  all  their  actions  are  those  of  wild 
animals.  Joined  to  the  restless  motion  of  the  eye,  there  is  a 
want  of  mind — an  absence  of  thought — and  an  action  wholly  by 
impulse,  strongly  expressed,  and  which  constantly  recalls  the 
similarity. 

"  A  man  who  appeared  to  be  a  chief,  with  two  or  three  others, 
forced  himself  into  camp,  bringing  with  him  his  arms,  in  spite 
of  my  orders  to  the  contrary.  When  shown  our  weapons,  he 
bored  his  ear  with  his  fingers,  and  said  he  could  not  hear. 
'  Why,' said  he,  '  there  are  none  of  you.'  Counting  the  people 
around  the  camp,  and  including  in  the  number  a  mule  which  was 
being  shod,  he  made  out  22.     '  So  many,'  said  he,  showing  the 


*    !i| 


I 

I 


I 


« 


!  r 


I 

li    I 


II: 


V'   »W 


11 


LIFE   AND   SERVICES   OF   JOHN   C.    FKEMONT. 


number,  '  and  we — we  are  a  great  many  ;'  and  lie  pointed  to  the 
hills  and  mountains  round  about.  '  It'  you  have  your  arms,'  said 
he,  twanj^in^'  his  bow,  'we  have  these.'  I  had  some  difficulty  in 
restraiiiin<^  the  people,  particuh\rly  Carson,  who  felt  an  insult  of 
this  kind  as  much  as  if  it  had  been  given  by  a  more  responsible 
beiriji^.  '  Don't  say  that,  old  man,'  said  he ;  '  don't  say  that — vour 
life's  in  danger ' — speaking  in  good  English  ;  and  probably  the 
old  man  was  nearer  to  his  end  than  he  will  be  before  he  meets 
it. 

"  Several  animals  had  been  necessarily  left  behind  near  the 
camp  last  night ;  and  early  in  the  morning,  before  the  Indians 
made  their  appearance,  several  men  were  sent  to  bring  them  in. 
When  1  was  beginning  to  be  uneasy  at  their  absence,  they 
returned  with  information  that  they  had  been  driven  off  from  the 
trail  by  Indians ;  and,  having  followed  the  tracks  in  a  short  dis- 
tance, they  found  the  animals  cut  up  and  spread  out  upon  buslies. 
In  the  evening  I  gave  a  fatigued  horse  to  some  of  the  Indians 
for  a  feast ;  and  the  village  which  carried  him  off  refused  to  share 
with  the  others,  who  made  loud  complaints  fi-om  the  rocks  of  the 
partial  distribution.  Many  of  these  Indians  had  long  sticks, 
hooked  at  the  end,  which  they  used  in  hauling  out  lizards,  and 
other  small  animals,  from  their  holes.  During  the  day  they 
occasionally  roasted  and  ate  lizards  at  our  fires  These  belong  to 
the  people  who  are  generally  known  under  the  name  oi  Dlf/gers ; 
and  to  these  I  have  more  particularly  had  reference  when  occasion- 
ally spe<iking  of  a  people  whose  sole  occupation  is  to  procure 
food  sufficient  to  support  existence.  The  formation  here  consists  of 
fine  yellow  sandstone,  alternating  with  a  coarse  conglomerate,  in 
which  the  stones  are  from  the  size  of  ordinary  gravel  to  '•ix  or 
eight  inches  in  diameter.  This  is  the  formation  which  renders 
the  surface  of  the  country  so  rocky,  and  gives  us  now  a  road 
alternately  of  loose  heavy  sands  and  rolled  stones,  which  cripple 
the  animals  in  a  most  extraordinary  manner. 

"  On  the  following  morning  we  left  the  Rio  do  los  Angeles^ 
and  continued  our  way  through  the  same  desolate  and  revolting 


SECOND    EXPLORING    EXPEDITION. 


113 


country,  where  lizards  were  the  only  animal,  and  the  tracks  of 
the  lizard  eaters  the  principal  sign  of  human  beings.  After 
twenty  miles'  narch  through  a  road  of  hills  and  heavy  sands,  wo 
reached  the  most  dreary  river  I  have  ever  seen — a  deep  rapid 
stream,  almost  a  torrent,  passing  swiftly  by,  and  roaring  against 
obstructions.  The  banks  were  wooded  with  willow,  acacia,  and 
a  frequent  plant  of  the  country  already  mentioned  {Garrya  ellip- 
t'yi),  growing  in  thickets,  resembling  willow,  and  bearing  a  small 
pink  flower.  Crossing  it,  we  encamped  on  the  left  bank,  where 
we  found  a  very  little  grass.  Our  three  remaining  steers,  being 
entirely  given  out,  were  killed  here.  By  the  boiling  point,  the 
elevation  of  the  river  here  is  4,060  feet ;  and  latitude,  by  obser- 
vation, 30°  41'  33".  The  stream  was  running  towards  the  south- 
west, and  appeared  to  come  from  a  snowy  mountain  in  the 
north.  It  proved  to  be  the  JRio  Virgcn — a  tributary  to  the 
Colorado.  Irdians  appeared  in  bands  upon  the  hills,  but  did  not 
come  into  cr.nip.  For  several  days  we  continued  our  journey  up 
the  river,  the  bottoms  of  which  were  thicklv  overcfrown  with 
various  kinds  of  brush  ;  and  the  sandy  soil  was  actually  covered 
with  the  tracks  of  i)t^«7frs,  who  followed  usstealthilr,  like  a  band 
of  wolves ;  and  we  had  no  opportunity  to  leave  behind,  even  for 
a  few  hours,  the  tired  animals,  in  order  that  they  might  be 
brought  into  camp  after  a  little  repose,  a  horse  or  mule,  left 
behind,  was  taken  oft'  in  a  moment.  On  the  evening  of  the  8th, 
having  travelled  28  miles  up  the  river  from  our  first  encampment 
on  it,  we  encamped  at  a  little  grass  plat,  where  a  spring  of  cool 
water  issued  from  the  bluft".  On  the  opposite  side  was  a  grove 
of  cottonwoods  at  the  mouth  of  a  fork,  which  here  enters  tJie 
river.  On  either  side  the  vallev  is  bounded  bv  ranges  of  moun- 
tains,  everywhere  high,  rocky  and  broken.  The  caravan  road 
was  lost  and  scattered  in  the  sandy  country,  and  we  had  been 
following  an  Indian  trail  up  the  river.  The  hunters  the  next 
day  were  sent  out  to  reconnoitre,  and  in  the  meantime  we  moved 
about  a  r.jile  farther  up,  where  we  found  a  good  little  patch  of 
grass.     There  being  only  sufficient  grass  for  the  night,  the  horses 


1 

W 

Hi 

114 


LIFE   AND    SERVICES    OF  JOHN   C.    FREMONT. 


were  sPDt  with  a  strong  guard  in  charge  of  Tabeau  to  a  neigh- 
boring hollow,  where  they  might  pasture  during  the  day  ;  and, 
to  be  ready  in  case  the  Indians  should  make  any  attempt  on  the 
animals,  several  of  the  best  horses  were  picketed  at  the  camp. 
In  a  few  hours  the  hunters  returned,  having  found  a  convenient 
ford  in  tlie  river,  and  discovered  the  Spanish  trail  on  the  other 
side. 

•'  I  had  been  engaged  in  arranging  plants ;  and,  fatigued  with 
the  heat  of  the  day,  I  fell  asleep  in  the  afternoon,  and  did  not 
awaire   until    sundown.      Presently  Carson    came    to   me,    and 
reported  that  Tabeau,  who  early  in  the  day  had  left  his  post, 
and,  without  my  knowledge,  rode  back  to  the  camp  we  had  left, 
in  gcarch  of  a  lame  mule,  had   not  returned.     While  we  were 
speaking,   a  smoke  rose   suddenly   from  the  cotton  wood  grove 
below,  which  plainly  told   us  what  had  befallen   him  ;  it  was 
raised  to  inform  the  surrounding  Indians  that  a  blow  had  been 
struck,  and  to  tell  them  to  be  on  their  guaid.     Carson  with 
several  men  well  mounted,  was  insta^itly  sent  down  the  river, 
but  returned  in  the  night  without  tidings  of  the  missing  man. 
Tiiey  went  to  the  camp  we  had  left,  but  neither  he  nor  the  mule 
was  there.     Searching  down  the  river,  they  found  the  tracks  of 
a  mule,  evidently  driven  along  by  Indians,  whose  tracks  were  on 
each  side  of  those  made  by  tiie  animal.     After  going  several 
miles,  they  came  to  the  mule  itself,  standing  in  some  bushes, 
mortally  wounded  in  the  side  by  an  arrow,  and  left  to  die,  that 
it  might  be  afterwards  butchered  for  food.     They  also  found,  in 
another  place,  as  they  were  hunting   about  on  the  ground  for 
Ta'^eau's  tracks,  something  that  looked  like  a  puddle  of  blood, 
but  which  the  darkness  prevented  them  from  verifying.     With 
these  details  they  returned  to  our  camp,  and  their  report  sad- 
dened all  our  hearts. 

^^  May  10. — This  morning  as  soon  as  there  was  light  enough 
to  follow  tracks,  I  set  out  myself,  with  Mr.  Fitzpatrick  and  several 
men,  in  search  of  Tabeau.  We  went  to  the  spot  where  the 
appearance  of  puddled  blood  had  been  seen  ;  and  this,  we  saw 


dlk 


SECOND   EXPLORING   EXPEDITION. 


115 


at  once,  had  been  the  place  where  lie  fell  and  died.  Blood  upon 
the  leaves,  and  be.iten  down  bushes,  showed  that  he  had  got  his 
wound  about  twenty  paces  from  where  he  fell,  and  that  he  had 
stM'ggled  lor  his  life.  He  had  probably  been  shot  through  the 
lungs  witli  an  arrow.  From  the  place  where  he  lay  and  bled, 
it  could  be  seen  that  he  had  been  dragged  to  the  river  bank 
and  thrown  into  it.  No  vestige  of  what  had  belonged  to  him 
could  be  found,  exce})t  a  fragment  of  his  horse  equipment. 
Iloi'se,  gun,  clothes — all  became  the  prey  of  these  Arabs  of  the 
New  World. 

"Tabeau  had  been  one  of  our  best  men,  and  his  unhappy 
death  spread  a  gloom  o\er  our  party.  Men,  who  have  gone 
through  such  dangers  and  sufferings  as  we  had  seen,  become  like 
brothers,  and  feel  each  other's  loss.  To  defend  and  avenge  each 
other,  is  the  deep  feeling  of  all.  We  wished  to  avenge  his 
death  ;  but  the  condition  of  our  horses,  languishing  for  grass  and 
repose,  forbade  an  expedition  into  unknown  mountains.  We 
knew  the  tribe  who  had  done  the  mischief — the  same  which 
had  been  insulting  our  camp.  They  knew  what  they  deserved, 
and  had  the  discretion  to  show  themselves  to  us  no  more.  The 
day  be.'ore,  they  infested  our  camp;  now,  not  one  appeared  ;  nor 
did  we  ever  afterwards  see  but  one  who  even  belonued  to  the 
same  tribe,  and  he  at  a  distance." 


On  the  23d  of  May,  Colonel  Fremont  reached  Utah 
Lake.  Having  completed  the  inmiense  circuit  of 
twelve  degrees  dianu^ter  North  and  South,  and  ten 
degrees  Kast  and  West,  he  found  himself  at  the  end  of 
eiiiht  months  on  the  same  sheet  of  water  which  he  had 
left  the  September  previous,  the  Utah  being  the 
Southern  limb  of  the  Grt  at  Salt  Lake  of  which  remark- 
able sheet  of  water  he  had  now^  seen  and  been  able  to 
fix  the  points  both  of  its  Northern  and  Southern  extrem- 
ities.     During    the    eight    preceding  months  he   had 


116 


LIFE   AND   SEKVICES    OF   JOHN   C.    FREMONT. 


I  n  m 


iM 


tnivelled  BoOO  inilos,  aiui  ]ia<l  a  view  of  Oregon  and  of 
Korth  California  from  tho  Kocky  J\[(>nntains  to  tlio 
I'acilic  Ocean,  and  of  tlie  two  ])finci[)al  streams  wbicli 
form  bays  or  harbors  on  the  coast  of  that  sea.  Dnrim; 
the  entire  eight  months  he  was  never  out  of  tlie  siglit  of 
snow,  and  tlio  point  "wliere  they  crossed  the  Sierra 
Kevada  was  was  near  2,000  feet  higher  than  the  South 
Pass  of  the  llocky  ]\[ountains. 

AV'itli  one  singU;  quotation  more  to  ilhistrate  Mr. 
Fremont's  faculty  of  generalization,  wo  close  our  account 
of  this  expedition. 

"  Having  complotecl  tliis  circuit,  and  being  now  about  to  turn 
tlic  back  upon  the  raciiic  slope  of  our  continent,  and  to  recross 
the  Rocky  Mountains,  it  is  natural  to  look  back  upon  our  foot- 
steps, and  take  some  brief  view  of  the  leading  features  and 
geneial  structure  of  the  country  we  had  traversed.  These  are 
peculiar  and  striking,  and  dilfer  essentially  from  the  Atlantic  side 
of  our  country.  The  mountains  all  are  higher,  more  numerous, 
and  moi'e  distinctly  detlned  in  tlieir  ranges  and  directions;  and, 
>vliHt  is  so  contrary  to  the  natural  order  of  such  formations,  one 
of  these  ranges,  which  is  near  tho  coast  (the  Sierra  Nevada 
and  the  Coast  liange),  presents  liigher  elevations  and  peaks  than 
any  whicli  are  to  be  found  in  the  liocky  Mountains  themselves. 
In  our  eight  months'  circuit,  we  were  never  out  of  sight  of  snow  • 
and  the  Sierra  Nevada,  where  we  crossed  it,  was  near  2,000  feet 
higher  than  the  South  Pass  in  tlie  Ilocky  Mountainr.  In  height, 
these  mountains  greatly  exceed  those  of  the  Atlantic  side,  con- 
stantly presenting  peaks  which  enter  the  region  of  eternal  snow  ; 
and  some  of  them  volcanic,  and  in  a  frequent  state  of  activity. 
They  are  seen  at  great  distances,  and  guide  the  traveller  in  his 
courses. 

"The  course  and  elevation  of  these  ranges  give  direction  to  the 
rivers  and  cliaracter  to  the  coast.    No  c'reat  river  does,  or  can 


SECOND   EXPLORING    EXPEDITION. 


117 


take  its  rise  below  tlio  Cascade  and  Sierra  Nevada  ran i:^e ;  tiie 
distance  to  the  sea  is  too  sliort  to  admit  of  it,  Tlie  rivers  of  the 
San  Franeisco  bay,  wliicli  are  the  lari^cst  after  the  C'ohnubia, 
are  local  to  that  bay,  and  hiteral  to  the  coast,  having  their 
sources  about  on  a  line  witli  the  Dalles  of  the  Cc^hinibia,  and 
running  each  in  a  valley  of  its  own,  between  Coast  =  nge  and 
the  Cascade  and  Sierra  Nevada  range.  The  Columbia  is  the 
only  river  which  traverses  the  whole  breadth  of  the  country, 
breakinGf  throuMi  all  the  raniifes,  and  enterino-  tke  sea.  Draw- 
ing  its  waters  from  a  section  of  ten  degrees  of  latitude  in  the 
]\ocky  Mountains,  which  are  collected  into  one  stream  by  three 
main  forks  (Lewis's,  Clark's,  and  the  North  Fork)  near  the 
centre  of  the  Oregon  valley,  this  great  river  thence  proceeds  by 
a  single  (diannel  to  the  sea,  while  its  three  forks  lead  each  to  a 
pass  in  the  mountains,  whicdi  opens  the  way  into  the  interior  of 
the  continent.  This  fact,  in  relation  to  the  rivers  of  this  region, 
gives  an  innnense  value  to  the  Columbia.  Its  mouth  is  the 
oidy  iidet  and  outlet  to  and  from  the  sea ;  its  three  forks  lead  to 
the  passes  in  the  mountains;  it  is,  therefore,  the  only  line  of 
communication  between  the  Pacitic  and  the  interior  of  North 
America ;  and  all  operations  of  war  or  commerce,  of  national  or 
social  intercourse,  must  be  conducted  upon  it.  Tins  gives  it  a 
value  beyond  estimation,  and  would  involve  irreparable  injury  if 
lost.  In  this  unity  and  concentration  of  its  waters,  the  Pacitic 
side  of  our  continent  dili'ers  entirely  from  the  Atlantic  side, 
where  the  waters  of  the  Alleghany  Mountains  are  dispersed  into 
many  rivers,  having  their  ditlerent  entrances  into  the  sea,  and 
opening  many  lines  of  communication  with  the  interior. 

"The  Pacific  coast  is  equally  difierent  from  that  of  the 
Atlantic.  The  coast  of  the  Atlantic  is  low  and  open,  indented 
with  numerous  bays,  sounds,  and  river  estuaries,  accessible  every- 
■where,  and  opening  by  many  channels  into  the  heart  of  the 
country.  The  Pacitic  coast,  on  the  contrary,  is  hio'h  and 
compact,  with  few  bays,  and  but  one  that  opens  into  the  heart 
of  the  country.     The  ijiimediate  coast  is  what  the  seamen  call 


118 


LIFE    AND   8ERVICK3   Off  JOHN   0.    FREMONT. 


nv; 


iron  bound.  A  littlo  witliin,  it  is  skirted  by  two  successive 
ranges  of  mountains,  sian<lini>-  as  ramparts  between  tlio  sea  and 
the  interior  coimtry ;  and  to  get  throui^li  which,  there  is  but  one 
pite,  and  that  narrow  and  easily  defended.  Tliis  structure  of 
the  coast,  baciced  by  these  two  ranges  of  mountains,  witii  its 
concentration  and  unity  of  waters,  gives  to  the  country  an 
irmnense  military  strength,  imd  will  probably  render  Oregon  the 
most  imj)regnable  country  in  the  world. 

"  Ditiering  so  much  ^rom  the  Atlantic  side  of  our  continent, 
in  coast,  mountains,  and  rivers,  the  Pacific  side  ditiers  from  it  in 
RTiother  most  rare  and  sini^-ular  feature — that  of  the  Gi'eat 
interior  Basin,  of  which  I  liave  so  often  spoken,  and  the  whole 
form  and  character  of  wliich  I  was  so  anxious  to  ascertain.  Its 
existence  is  vouched  for  by  such  of  the  American  traders  and 
himters  as  have  some  knowledge  of  that  region ;  the  structure 
of  the  Sierra  Nevada  range  of  moimtains  requires  it  to  be  there ; 
and  my  own  observations  confirm  it.  Mr.  Joseph  Walker,  who  is 
so  well  acquainted  in  those  parts,  informed  me  that,  from  the  Great 
Rait  Lake  west,  there  was  a  succession  of  lakes  and  rivers  which 
have  no  outlet  to  the  sea,  nor  any  connection  with  the  Colum- 
bia, or  with  the  Colorado  of  the  Gulf  of  California.  He 
described  some  of  tliese  lakes  as  being  large,  with  numerous 
streams,  and  even  considerable  rivers,  falling  into  them.  In  fact, 
all  concur  in  the  general  report  of  these  interior  rivers  and 
lakes ;  and,  for  want  of  understanding  the  force  and  power  of 
evaporation,  which  so  soon  establishes  an  equilibrium  between 
the  loss  and  supply  of  waters,  the  fable  of  whirlpools  and  subter- 
raneous outlets  has  gained  belief,  as  the  only  imaginable  way 
of  carrying  off  the  waters  which  have  no  visible  discharge.  The 
structure  of  the  country  would  require  this  formation  of  interior 
lakes ;  for  the  waters  which  would  collect  between  the  Rocky 
Mountains  and  the  Sierra  Nevada,  not  being  able  to  cross  this 
formidable  barrier,  nor  to  get  to  the  Columbia  or  the  Colorado, 
must  naturally  collect  into  reservoirs,  each  of  which  would  have 
its  little  system  of  streams  and  rivers  to  supply  it.     This  would 


SECOND    KXPLOlllNG    EXPEDITION. 


119 


i 


be  the  natu'ul  eilect ;  and  what  I  saw  went  to  confirm  it.  The 
Great  8alt  Lake  is  a  forniatiun  of  this  kinil.  and  quite  a  huge 
une ;  and  having  many  streams,  and  one  considerable  river,  four 
or  five  hundred  miles  lono;,  falling  into  it.  This  lake  and  river 
T  saw  and  examined  myst'lf;  and  also  saw  the  Wah-satch  and 
]^ear  River  mountains  which  enclose  the  waters  of  the  lake  on 
the  east,  and  constitute,  in  that  quarter,  the  rim  of  the  Great 
Basin.  Afterwards,  along  the  eastern  base  of  the  Sierra  Nevada, 
where  we  travelled  for  forty-two  days,  I  saw  the  line  of  lakes 
and  rivers  which  lie  at  the  foot  of  that  Sierra ;  and  which  Sierra 
is  the  western  rim  of  the  liasin.  In  going  down  Lewis's  Fork 
and  tlie  main  Columbia,  I  crossed  only  inferior  streams  coming 
in  from  the  left,  such  as  could  draw  their  water  from  a  short 
distance  only ;  and  I  often  saw  the  mountains  at  their  heads, 
white  with  snow ;  which,  all  accounts  said,  divided  the  waters 
of  the  desert  from  those  of  the  Columbia,  and  which  could  be 
no  other  than  the  range  of  mountains  which  form  the  rim  of  the 
Basin  on  its  northern  side.  And  in  returning  from  California 
along  the  Spanish  trail,  as  far  as  the  head  of  the  Santa  Clara 
Fork  of  the  Uio  Virgen,  I  crossed  only  small  streams  making 
their  way  south  to  the  Colorado,  or  lost  in  sand — as  the 
Mo-hah-ve ;  while  to  the  left,  lofty  mountains,  their  summits 
white  witii  snow,  were  often  visible,  and  which  must  have 
turned  water  to  the  north  as  well  as  to  the  south,  and  thus 
constituted,  on  this  part,  the  southern  rim  of  the  Basin.  At  the 
head  of  the  Santa  Clara  Fork,  and  in  the  Vegas  de  Santa  Clara, 
we  crossed  the  ridge  which  paited  the  two  systems  of  waters. 
We  entered  the  Basin  at  that  point,  and  have  travelled  in  it 
ever  since,  having  its  southeastern  rim  (the  Wah-satch  Moun- 
tain) on  the  right,  and  crossing  the  streams  which  flow  down 
into  it.  The  existence  of  the  Basin  is,  therefore,  an  established 
fact  in  my  mind ;  its  extent  and  contents  are  yet  to  be  better 
ascertained.  It  cannot  be  less  than  four  or  five  hundred  miles 
each  way,  and  must  lie  principally  in  the  Alta  Califoniia;  the 
deraarkation  latitude  of  42°  probably  cutting  a  segment  from 


ill 


';1 


I 


JLM) 


LIFIC   AND   BKIIVKJKS    OK   JOHN    C.    FUKMONT. 


m  '  -  I'- 


:i'  m 


tlio  iiorlli  part  of  \ho  rim.  Of  its  interior,  but  littlo  is  known. 
It  is  ('allt'd  ;i  (icsn't,  and,  from  what  I  saw  of  it,  sterility  may  l>o 
its  j)romiiieiit  characteristic;  i)ut  wliero  tliero  is  so  much  water, 
tliere  must  ho  some  0(tscs.  The  i^reat  river,  and  the  L!,'reat  lake, 
re|)(>i'tc(l,  may  not  be  ('(|ual  to  the  repcM't;  but  where  tlier«!  is  so 
mucji  shdw,  there  must  be  streams;  and  whcM'e  there  is  no 
outlet,  tliei-e  must  be  hakes  to  hold  tiio  accumulat.ed  waters,  or 
sands  to  swallow  them  uj).  In  this  eastern  part  of  the  Hasin, 
containin;;'  Seviei',  Utiih,  and  the  (Jreat  Salt  laki's,  and  the  riveis 
and  creeks  falliuL;'  into  them,  we  know  there  is  oxx.d  soil  and 
^ood  grass,  adapted  to  civili/ed  settlements.  Tn  tlie  western 
j)art,  on  Salmon  Trout  Kiver,  and  some  other  streams,  the  same 
remark  may  be  made. 

"The  contents  of  tliis  (Jreat  13asin  are  yet  to  be  examined. 
That  it  is  peopled,  we  know ;  but  miserably  and  wparsely. 
From  all  that  I  lieard  aiul  saw,  I  should  say  that  humanity  hero 
ai>i>eared  in  its  lowest  form,  and  in  its  most  elementaiy  state. 
dispersed  in  sino-le  families;  witliout  lire-arnis;  eatini^  setxls 
and  insects;  dig"i;Mn<r  roots  (and  lienco  their  name) — such  is 
the  condition  of  llie  o-ixater  part.  Others  are  a  degree  higher, 
and  live  in  communities  npon  some  lake  or  river  that  supplies 
fish,  and  from  whence  they  I'epulso  tlie  miserable  Dif/ffcr.  The 
rabbit  is  the  larg  st  animal  known  in  this  desert ;  its  flesh 
affords  a  little  meat;  and  their  bao'-like  coverinnf  is  made  of  its 
skins.  The  wild  sage  is  their  only  wood,  and  hero  it  is  of 
extraordinary  size — sometimjs  a  foot  in  diameter,  and  six  or 
eight  feet  high.  It  serves  for  fuel,  for  building  material,  for 
shelter  for  the  rabbits,  and  for  some  sort  of  covering  for  the  feet 
and  legs  in  cold  weather.  Such  are  the  accounts  of  the 
inhabitants  and  productions  of  the  Great  Basin ;  and  -which, 
though  imperfect,  must  have  some  foundation,  and  excite  our 
desire  to  know  the  whole. 

''  The  whole  idea  of  such  a  desert,  and  such  a  people,  is  a 
novelty  in  our  country,  and  excites  Asiatic,  not  American  ideas* 
Interior  basins,   with   their  own  systems  of  lakes  and   rivers, 


8FC0ND    KXPLORING    KXriDlTIO',. 


121 


nnd  often  storil*',  aro  cntniiion  enonrjh  in  Asia;  lu'Ojdo  still  in 
the  elciiKMitary  state  ot*  t'aniilips,  livinii^  in  descrtf*,  with  no  otli<>r 
occnpation  tiian  tiio  mere  animal  search  tor  food,  may  still  1)0 
seen  in  that  ancient  qnaffei*  of  the  i^lolic ;  hnt  in  Amciica  such 
things  are  new  and  strange,  unknown  and  unsns|M'cled,  and  dis- 
eretlilcd  when  related.  Tuit  1  tlatter  myself  that  what  is 
discovei'e(l,  thoni;li  not  enoni^h  to  satisfy  ciiriosify,  is  snfllcii-nt 
to  excite  it,  and  that  subsequent  explorations  will  complete  what, 
lias  l)(!en  commenced. 

"I'his  account  of  the  Oreat  13asin,  it    will  be   remembered, 
belono's    to    the    Alta    ('alifornia,    ami    has    no    ap[)lication    to 
Oregon,    whose    capabilities    may   justify    a    separate    remark. 
Keferriiiij    to  my  journal    for  particular  deficriptions,  and    for 
Sectional  boundari(>s  between  good  and  bad  districts,  I  can  only 
say,  in  general  and  comparative  terms,  that,  in  that  branch  of 
agriculture  which   implies  the  cultivation  of  grains  and  staple 
crops,  it  would  be  inferior  to  the  Atlantic  States,  though  many 
parts  aie  superior  for  wheat;  while  in  the  rearing  of  (locks  and 
herds  it  would  claim  a  high  place.     Its  grazing  capabilities  are 
gieat;  and  even  in   the  indigenous  grass  now  there,  an  element 
of  indi\idual  aiid  national   wealth   may  be  found.     In  fact,  the 
valuable  grasses  begin  within  one  liundred  and  lifty  miles  of  the 
Missouri  frontier,  and  extend  to  the  Pacitic  ocean.     P^ast  of  the 
Kocky   mountains,  it  is  the  short  curly  grass,  on   which   the 
butialo  delight  to  feed  (whence  its  name  of  butValo),  and  which 
is  still  good  when  dry  and   apparently  dead.      West  of  those 
mountains  it  is  a  larger  growth,  in  clusters,  and  hence  called 
bunch  grass,  and  which  has  a  second  or  fall  growth.     Plains  and 
mountains  both  exhibit  them  ;  and  I  liave  seen  good  pasturage 
at  an  elevation  of  ten  thousand  feet.     In  this  spontaneous  pro- 
duct the  trading  or  travelling  caravans  can  find  subsistence  for 
their   animals ;    and    in    military    operations    any    number   of 
cavalry  may  be    moved,  and    any   number  of  cattle   may   be 
driven;  and  thus  men  and  horses  be  supported  on  long  expedi- 
tions, and  even  in  winter,  in  the  sheltered  situations. 

6 


! 


123 


MFK    AXD    8ERVICK3   OF   JOHN    0.    FRKMONT. 


t 


•' Commorcially,  tlic  vnhio  of  tlic  Oronfon  country  must  be 
great,  wa>lio<l  as  it  is  by  ilio  nortli  racilir  ocean — fronfincf 
Asia — piodiicini,'  ninny  of  the  cUMnonts  of  commerce — niiM 
and  lie.iltliy  in  its  climate — nn<]  bccominrf,  ns  it  naturally 
will,  ft  thoroughfare  for  the  East  luiiia  and  China  trade." 

Tlic  RouDclncss  of  tlicso  inductionfl  liuve  all  been  siiico 
al)uiulantly  vcrilicd. 


K       1li.T. 


THIRD   KXPLORTNO    EXPEPITION. 


123 


C  II  A  P  T  E  R  V  IT . 


Ill 


TIIIKD  EXl'KDITION — riRST  VISIT  TO  MAHTPOSAS — STRAXflE 
rilASKS  (IF  INDIAN  UVK FKJHT  AVITII  IIOKSK-TIIIKF  INDI- 
ANS  LOSKS  AM.  Ills  CATTLE  IN    TllK    SNOW IIOSTILK  MKS- 

SAOK     FROM     OOVK/NOK     CASTUO — HOISTS    TIIK     AMKKICAN 
FLAO    IN     CAI.IFOUNIA — COL.    BFNTOn's     A(H;()1:NT     OF    THE 

CONQUEST    OF    CALIFORNIA KIT    CAHSOn's    ACCOUNT    OF    A 

NIGHT     ATTACK     BY    A     PARTY     OF     TLA:\IATH     INDIANS  — 

PARDON    OF    PICO SECRETARY    MARCY's    ACCOUNT  OF    THE 

CONQUEST    OF    CALIFORNIA — ESTABLISHES     THE    INDEPEND- 
ENCE   OF    CALIFORNIA. 

In  proparing  these  reports  for  the  ])ress  the  remainder 
of  1844  was  occupied.  In  the  sprin<^  of  the  following 
year,  Fremont  set  out  on  a  third  expedition,  wliicli  com- 
prcliended  in  its  design  an  exjdorarion  of  the  interior 
region  known  as  tlie  Great  Basin,  and  the  maritime 
country  of  Oregon  and  California.  But  tlie  leading  idea 
of  the  journey  was  an  examination  of  the  overland  com- 
munication with  the  ocean,  und  to  this  tlie  others,  though 
of  great  and  special  interest,  were  incident  and  subor- 
dinate. 

To  this  special  object  his  general  plan  of  surveys  had 
been  gradually  directed,  and  his  visit  to  California  in 
the  preceding  winter  had  given  to  it  point  and  increased 


i 

! 


i  I- 


124 


Lin-:    AND    SERVICES    OF   JOIIX    C.    FKEMONT. 


m    '• 


I 


attraction.  Tlie  boantv  of  llio  couiitrv,  and  itvS  grand 
commercial  advantages,  had  indeHl)ly  im})resscd  them- 
selves on  his  mind,  and  he  had,  in  cont^eqnence,  decided 


to 


make  it  a  tnture  liome  tor  nimseii  ana  ms  lanniv. 

After  some  months  spent  in  examining  the  head- 
Maters  of  the  great  rivers  wliich  liow  to  either  ocean, 
the  l)arty  descended  at  the  beginning  of  winter  to  the 
CJreat  J^alr  Lake,  and  in  Octol)er  encamped  on  its  south- 
western shore,  in  view  of  that  nndescribed  country 
which  at  that  time  liad  not  been  penetrated,  and  which 
vague  and  contradictory  re2)ort3  of  Indians,  represented 
as  a  desert  without  grass  or  water. 

Their  previous  visit  to  the  lake  liad  given  it  a 
somewhat  familiar  aspect,  and  on  leaving  it  they  felt  as 
if  al'out  'o  commence  their  iournev  anew.  Its  eastern 
shore  was  frequenred  by  hirge  bands  of  Indians,  but 
here  they  had  dwindled  down  to  a  single  family,  which 
was  gleaning  from  some  hidden  source  enough  to  sup- 
port life,  and  drinking  the  salt  water  of  a  little  stream 
near  by,  no  fresh  water  being  at  hand.  This  ofiered 
scanty  encouragement  as  to  what  they  might  expect  on 
the  desert  bevond. 

At  its  threshold  and  immediately  before  them  was  a 
naked  plain  of  smooth  clay  surface,  mostl}^  devoid 
of  vegetation — the  hazy  -weather  of  the  summer  hung 
over  it,  and  in  the  distance  rose  scattered,  low, 
black  and  dry-looking  mountains.  At  what  appeared 
to  be  fifty  miles  or  more,  a  higher  peak  held  out  some 
promise  of  wood  and  water,  and  towards  this  it  was 
resolved  to  direct  their  course. 

I\)ur  men,  with  a  pack  animal  loaded  with  water  for 
two  days,  and  accompanied  by  a  naked  Indian — who 
volunteered  for  a  reward  to  be  their  guide  to  a  spot 


THIRD  p:xpi.ortng  expedition. 


125 


md 
llcd 


llh- 
\1'Y 


"wliore  he  said  there  was  grass  and  fine  spriiiirs — were 
sent  ioi'ward  to  exi)h.)re  in  advance  lor  a  foothold,  and 
verily  the  existence  of  M'ater  before  llie  mIioIo  parly 
sliould  be  lannciied  into  the  desert.  Their  way  led 
t(Avard  the  high  peak  of  tlie  niountaiii,  on  which  they 
were  to  make  a  smoke  signal  in  the  event  of  finding 
Mater.  Abont  sunset  of  the  second  day,  no  signal  hav- 
ing been  seen,  Fremont  became  uneasy  at  the  absence 
of  his  men,  and  set  out  with  the  whole  party  uj)on 
their  trail,  travelling  ra})idly  all  the  night.  Towards 
morm'ng  one  of  the  scouts,  Archambault,  was  met 
retui'iiino;. 

The  Indian  had  been  found  to  know  less  than  them- 
selves, and  had  been  sent  back,  but  the  men  had  jjushed 
on  to  the  mountains,  where  tliey  found  a  running 
stream,  with  wood  and  suthcient  grass.  The  whole 
party  now  lay  down  to  rest,  and  the  next  day,  after  a 
hard  march,  reached  the  stream.  The  distance  across 
the  plain  was  nearly  seventy  miles,  and  they  called  the 
mountain  which  had  guided  them  Pilot  Peak.  This 
was  their  lirst  day's  march  and  tlieir  first  camp  in  the 
desert. 

A  few  days  afterwards  the  expedition  was  divided 
into  two  parties — the  larger  one  under  the  guidance  of 
Walker,  a  well-known  mountaineer  and  ex|)erieiiced 
traveller,  going  around  to  the  foot  of  the  Sierra  Nevada 
by  a  circuitous  route  which  he  had  previously  travelled, 
and  Fremont,  with  ten  men,  Delawares  and  whites, 
penetrating  directly  through  the  heart  of  the  desert. 

They  had  been  travelling  a  week,  during  which  they 
had  seen  human  beings  only  on  one  occasion,  and  at 
the  close  af  a  hard  day's  journey,  in  which  they  had 
failed  to  find  water,  had  turned  into  a  mountain  where 


126 


LIFE   AND    SERVICES   OF   JOHN    C.    FREMONT. 


I 


;1 

li             i 
V: 

V                  ; 

I 

I 

' 

[ 

1 

some  appearances  of  timber  and  grass  gave  promising 
indications  of  a  i^ood  camp. 

They  folloAved  nj)  a  dry  srream  bed,  nntil  they  were 
nearly  two  tlunh'^and  feet  ahove  tlie  i)hun  and  towards 
tJie  summit  of  the  nionnlain,  wiiere  they  found  a  spring 
sufficiently  large  for  the  camp  wants,  witli  grass  abun- 
dant, and  pine  wood  and  cedar  to  keep  np  the  night 
fires ;  for  it  was  November,  and  the  newly-fallen  snow 
already  marked  out  the  higher  ridges  of  the  mountains. 

They  were  surprised  to  see  tracks  of  a  naked  foot 
near  the  spring,  which  had  been  recently  cleaned  out, 
but  there  were  no  other  indications  of  human  life. 
Supper  was  over,  and  they  were  about  the  fii'e,  when 
Carson  who  was  lying  on  his  back  with  his  pipe  in  his 
mouth,  his  hands  under  his  head  and  his  feet  to  the  fire, 
suddenly  exclaimed,  half  rising  and  pointing  to  the 
other  side  of  the  fire — '*Good  God!  look  there!''  In 
the  blaze  of  the  fire,  peering  over  her  skinny,  crooked 
hands,  which  shaded  her  eyes  from  the  glare,  so  as  to 
enable  her  to  see  the  men,  was  standing  an  old  woman, 
apparently  eighty  years  of  age,  neai'ly  naked,  her  grizzly 
liair  hanging  down  over  her  face  and  shoulders.  She 
bad  evidently  thought  it  a  camp  of  her  people,  and 
in  the  grateful  warmth  of  the  fire  had  already  begun  to 
talk  and  gesticulate,  when  her  open  mouth  was  sud- 
denly ])aralvsed  and  her  face  blanched  with  friii-lit,  as 
she  saw  the  faces  of  the  whites. 

With  a  natural  instinct  she  turned  to  escape,  but  the 
men  had  gathered  round  her,  and  she  made  them  com- 
prehend that  she  had  been  brought  there  and  left  by 
her  people — that  she  Avas  very  old  and  could  gather  no 
morj  seeds,  and  was  no  longer  good  for  anything,  and 
that  she  was  going  to  die  ^vheu  the  snows  got  deep. 


TUIRD    KXPLORING    EXl'EDIl  ioN. 


127 


ng 


She  was  greatly  alarmed  and  eager  to  get  away,  and 
as  the  hinitei's  had  been  successriil  that  day,  she  was 
plenlil'ully  supplied  with  the  meat  of  mountain  sheep, 
whicli  she  ran  off  with  as  soon  as  it  was  given  to  her. 
She  had  not  gone  twenty  steps  before  it  was  remeiu- 
Lered  that  she  had  no  liie  and  probably  no  means  of 
making  one;  and  one  of  the  men,  seizing  a  brand, 
ran  after  her,  but  to  no  purpose — she  had  dodged  down 
into  the  brush  and  in  the  darkness  could  not  be  found. 

Some  davs  afterwards,  ti-avellini^  along;  the  foot  of  a 
mountain,  the  arid  countjy  covered  with  dwarf  shrubs, 
a  Ho'lit  volume  of  smoke  was  seen  risiu";  from  a  ravine. 
Riding  cautiously  up,  they  discovered  a  single  Indian 
on  the  border  of  a  small  creek.  He  was  standing  before 
a  little  tire,  naked  as  he  was  born,  appai'ently  thinking, 
and  looking  at  a  small  earthen  pot  which  was  simmering 
over  the  lire,  filled  with  the  common  ground-squirrel  of 
the  countiy.  Another  bunch  of  squirrels  lay  near  it, 
and  close  by  were  his  bow  and  arrows,  lie  was  a  well- 
made,  good-looking  young  man,  about  twenty-five  years 
of  age.  Although  so  taken  by  suiprise  that  he  made  no 
attempt  to  esca})e,  and  evidently  greatly  alarmed,  he 
received  his  visitors  withi'orced  miietv  and  offered  them 
'part  oi' his 2^<^t  au  feu  and  his  bunch  of  squirrels.  lie 
was  kindly  treated  and  some  little  presents  made  him, 
and  the  })arty  continued  their  way. 

His  bow  was  handsomely  made,  and  the  arrov/s,  of 
which  there  were  al)out  forty  in  his  quiver,  were  neatly 
feathered,  and  headed  with  obsidian,  worked  into  spear- 
shape  l)y  patient  labor. 

After  they  had  separated,  Fremont  found  that  his 
Delawares  had  taken  a  fancy  to  the  Ind'-in's  bow  and 
arrows,  and  carried  them  off.      Tliev  carried  them  will- 


H  if 


I 


128 


LIFE    AND    8EUVICE8   OF   JOHN    C.    FREMONT. 


A-    M 


v 


ingly  back,  when  they  were  reminded  that  they  had  ex- 
posed the  poor  fellow  to  almost  certain  starvation  by 
depriving  him,  in  the  beginning  of  winter,  of  his  only 
means  of  subsistence,  which  it  would  require  months  to 
replace. 

There  were  no  tracks  around,  to  indicate  the  presence 
of  other  Indians  in  the  neighborhood,  nor  was  it  probable 
there  were  any  within  twenty  or  thirty  miles.  The 
dilhculty  of  subsistence  reduces  this  people  nearly  to 
the  condition  of  animals,  arid  scatters  them,  during  the 
greater  part  of  the  year,  sometimes  f^ingly,  sometimes 
in  families,  until  the  spring  or  (in  certain  places)  the 
fishins:  season  brinofs  them  to«r(?ther  aocain. 

One  day  the  party  had  reached  one  of  the  lakes  lying 
along  tlie  foot  of  the  Sierra  Kevada,  which  was  their 
appoi?'r'?d  rendezvons  with  their  friends,  and  where,  at 
this  season,  the  scattered  Indians  of  the  neighborhood 
were  gathering,  to  fish.  Turning  a  point  on  ihe  lake 
shore,  a  party  of  Indians,  some  twelve  or  fourteen  in 
number,  came  abruptly  in  view.  They  were  advancing 
along  in  Indian  tile,  one  following  the  other,  their  heads 
bent  forward,  and  eyes  fixed  on  the  ground.  As  the 
two  parties  met,  the  Indians  did  not  turn  their  heads  or 
raise  their  eyes  from  the  ground,  but  passed  silently 
along.  The  whites,  habituated  to  the  chances  of  savage 
life,  and  always  uncertain  whether  they  should  find, 
friends  or  f  )es  in  those  they  met,  fell  readily  into  their 
humoi",  and  they  too  passed  on  their  way  without  word 
or  bait. 

It  wns  a  strange  meeting  :  two  parties  of  such  difterent 
races  and  different  countrie^^,  coming  abruptly  upon  each 
other,  with  every  occasion  to  excite  curiosity  and  pro- 
voke question,  pass  in  a  desert  without  a  word  of  inquiry 


TUIRL'    EXPLORING    EXPKDITIOX. 


129 


or  greeting — without  any  sliow  of  friendsliip  or  attempt 
at  liostilitv. 

ft/ 

Shortly  after  tliis  rencontrG,  the  divided  parties  met 
.lb  their  appointed  place,  where  a  river,  to  which  they 
gave  Walker's  name,  discharges  into  the  lake. 

There  was  a  place  on  the  lake  where  heds  of  rushes 
made  good  pasturage  for  their  half  starved  animals,  and 
here  the  two  parties  remained  some  days  together. 

It  was  now  mid-winter,  they  were  out  of  provisions — 
and  there  was  no  game.  The  heavy  snows  might  bo 
daily  expected  to  block  up  the  passes  in  the  great  Siena, 
if  they  had  not  already  fallen,  and  with  all  their 
expei'ience  it  was  considered  too  hazardous  to  attempt 
the  passage  with  the  mattriel  of  a  whole  party  ;  It  w^as 
arranged  therefore  that  AValker  should  continue  with  the 
main  party  southward  along  the  Sierra,  and  enter  the 
valley  of  the  San  Joaquin  by  some  one  of  the  low  passes 
at  its  head,  where  there  is  rarely  or  never  snow.  Fi"e- 
mont  undertook,  with  a  few  men,  to  cross  directly  west- 
ward over  the  Sierra  Ts^evada  to  Sutter's  Fort,  wit]  the 
view  of  obtaining  there  the  necessary  supplies  of  horses 
and  beef  cattle  with  which  to  rejoin  his  party. 

lie  encountered  the  obstacles  which  these  formid- 
able mountains  always  present  in  winter,  but  had  the 
good  fortune  to  get  through  the  passes  before  they  were 
choked  by  the  snows,  and  reached  Sutter's  Fort  in 
safety.  ' 

The  necessary  supplies  were  obtained  without  diffi- 
culty, and  in  the  middle  of  December  he  proceeded 
with  his  party — now  numbering  in  all  about  sixteen — • 
to  meet  his  main  camp  at  the  appointed  place  of  rendez- 
vous, travelling  in  a  southeasterly  direction  up  the  valley 
of  the  San  Joaquin. 


5* 


■ 

i 


m    •«: 


fc 


130 


LIFE    AND   SKRVICKS    OF   JOHN   C.    FKF,M()NT. 


!« 


h     i  ■■ 


After  some  days'  travel,  leaving  the  Mercedes  river, 
tliey  had  entered  among  the  foot  hills  of  the  mountains, 
and  were  journeying'  through  a  beautiful  country  of 
undulating  ui)land,  openly  timbered  with  oaks,  princi- 
j)ally  evergreen,  and  watered  with  small  streams.  In 
the  beauty  and  varied  character  of  its  scenery,  this  tract 
is  one  of  the  most  remarkable  in  Southern  California. 

Travelling  along,  they  came  suddenly  upon  broad  and 
dee])ly-worn  trails,  which  had  been  freshly  travelled  by 
large  bands  of  horses,  apparently  coming  from  the  set- 
tlements on  the  coast.  These  and  other  indications 
warned  them  that  they  were  approaching  villages  of  the 
Horse-Thief  Indians,  who  ap]:)eared  to  have  just  returned 
from  a  successful  foray.  With  the  breaking  up  of  the 
missions  many  of  the  Indians  had  returned  to  their 
tribes  in  the  mountains.  Their  knowledge  of  the 
Spanish  language,  and  familiarity  with  the  ranches  and 
towns,  enabled  them  to  pass  and  repass,  at  pleasure, 
between  their  villages  in  the  Sierra  and  the  ranchos 
on  the  coast.  They  very  soon  availed  themselves  of 
these  facilities  to  steal  and  run  oft'  into  the  mountains 
bands  of  horses,  and  in  a  short  time  it  became  the  occu- 
pation of  all  the  Indians  inhabiting  tlie  southern  Sierra 
Kevada,  as  well  as  the  plains  beyond. 

Three  or  four  parties  would  be  sent  at  a  time  from 
dift'erent  villages,  and  every  week  was  sigruilized  by  the 
carrying- oft' of  hundreds  of  horses  to  be  killed  and  eaten 
in  tiie  interior.  Ivepeated  expeditions  had  been  made 
against  them  by  the  Californians,  who  rarely  succeeded 
in  reaching  the  foot  of  the  mountains,  and  were  invaria- 
bly defeated  when  they  did. 

As  soon  as  the  fresh  trail  had  been  discovered,  four 
men,  tw  o  Delawares  with  Maxwell  and  Dick  Owens, 


THIRD    EXPLOEIXG    EXri.nillON. 


131 


two  of  Fremont's  favourite  men,  "vvere  sent  fn-ward 
upon  the  trail.  The  rest  of  tlie  l>arty  liad  tolh)\ve(l  along 
at  tht'lr  usual  gait.  l)iit  Indian  si^iis  became  so  tliick, 
ti'ail  at'rer  trail  joining  on,  that  they  starled  rapidlj  afier 
the  men,  fearing  for  their  safety.  After  a  few  miles 
ride,  they  reached  a  s])ot  which  had  been  the  recent 
cam})ing  ground  of  a  village,  and  where  abundant  grass 
and  o'ood  water  siii-- fires  ted  a  haltiui?  place  for  the  nij'ht. 
It  was,  evidently,  a  favorite  encampment  of  the  Horse 
Thieves,  as  horse-bones  whitened  the  iri'ound  in  everv 
direction.  They  immediately  set  about  unpacking  their 
animals  ai.d  prejniring  to  encamp. 

While  thus  enij-aiivd,  thev  heard  what  seemed  to  be 
the  l>arkin<>:  of  nninv  doo--^,  cominn;  api)arentlv  from  a 
village,  not  far  distant;  bnt  tliey  had  hardly  thrown  off 
their  saddles  when  thev  suddeidv  became  aware  that  it 
was  the  noise  of  women  and  children  shouting  and  cry- 
ing ;  and  this  was  sufficient  notice  that  the  men  who  had 
been  sent  ahead  had  fallen  among  unfriendly  Indians,  so 
that  a  fiicht  had  alreadv  commenced. 

It  did  not  need  an  instant  to  throvv  the  saddles  on 
again,  and  leaving  four  men  to  guard  the  camp,  Fre- 
mont, with  the  rest,  rode  off  in  the  direction  of  the 
sounds. 

They  had  galloped  but  half  a  mile,  when  crossing  a 
little  ridge,  they  came  abruptly  in  view  of  several  hun- 
dred  Indians  advancing  on  each  side  of  a  knoll,  on  the 
top  of  which  were  the  men,  where  a  cluster  of  trees 
and  rocks  made  a  good  defence.  It  was  evident  that 
thev  had  come  suddenlv  into  the  midst  of  the  Indian 
village,  and  jumping  from  their  horses,  with  the  instinc- 
tive skill  of  old  hunters  and  mountaineers  as  they  were, 
had  got  into  an  admirable  place  to  liglit  from. 


i 


ih 


if 


,  1 
I 


;i 


It 


i 


-) 


di! 


:\l 


M 


i1    '■ 


J.       4S, 


on 


I.TFr:    AND    SKIiVKjES    OK    JolIN    C,    FUIilMONT. 


Tlio   Indians  liad  nearly  surroinuhMl  tlio  knoll,  and 
M'cro  about  i»vttin_ii;  possession  of  the  horses  as  Fremont's 


party   came   in    vie 


w 


'ri 


leir  weleonio    s 


hoiit 


as 


ti 


ic 


y 


c'liarired  ni)  the  hill  was  answered  bv^  the  veil  of  tho 
l^elawares  as  they  dashed  down  to  recover  their  animals, 
and  the  eraek  of  Owen's  and  jSraxwelTs  riiles.  (Jwons 
had  singled  out  the  foremost  Indian,  who  went  iieadlong 
cl(»wn  tho  hill,  to  steal  horses  no  more. 

Profiting  by  the  iirst  surprise  of  the  Indians,  and 
anxious  for  the  safety  of  the  men  who  had  been  left  in 
cam]"),  the  whites  immediately  retreated  towai'ds  it, 
checking  the  Indians  with  occasional  rifle  shots,  with  the 
range  of  which  it  seemed  remarkable  that  they  were 
accpiaintcd. 

Xight  wns  drawing  on  as  they  reached  their  camp, 
the  Indians  scattered  throui^h  the  woods  and  rocks  about, 
whence  they  kept  up  animated  harangues  to  the  whites. 
^Cnny  of  them  had  been  mission  Indians,  and  sp(dce 
Spanish  well.     "  Wait,''  they  said,  "  Esperate  Carrajos 
—wait  until  morning.     There  are  two  big  villages  close 
by;  we  have  sent  for  the   chief:  ho'll   be  down  before 
morning  with  all   the   ])eopU?,    and   you   will   all  die. 
Koiu;  of  vou  shall  go  back  :  w(^  will  have  all  vour  horses." 
The  whole  camp  were  on  guard  until  daylight.     As 
soon  as  it  was  dark,  each  man  crept  to  his  post.     They 
heard  the  women  and  children  retreating  towards  the 
mountains,  but  nothing  disturbed  the  quiet  of  the  canij), 
except  Vvhen  one  of  the  Delawares  shot  at  a  wolf  as  it 
jumped  over  a  log,  and  which  he  mistook  tV-tr  an  Indian. 
As  soon  as  it  grew  light  they  took  to  the  most  open 
ground,  and  retreated  into  the  phiin.    This  was  a  village 
of  Chauchiles  Indians,  ana  the  locality  has  since  be- 
come well  known  under  the  name  of  Mariposas. 


TMiiM)  rxri.oRTvr;  T;xpi;i)iri<»N'. 


1:^3 


Tlio  |)arty  niijuin,  hy  ji  luoro  circuitous  route,  pushed 
on  to  tlicir  rciuK'/vous  witli  tlic  iiuiiii  cuinp. 

It)  his  sctircli  after  liis  coni]»ariioiis,  Frctnoiit  entered 
into  ]ii;>:li  and  ruL'ired  mountains,  where  he  was  shut  in 
by  the  winter's  snows,  from  wliieii  lie  extricated  liim- 
Rolf  with  great  ditHcuhy,  and  with  tlio  hjss  ot'  all  his 
cattle. 

After  u  delay  of  some  weeks  both  |)jirties  descendecl 
into  the  "Great  California  Valley,"  <i;lad  of  their  escape 
from  suffei-ing,  and  confident  of  a<^ain  enjoying  the  hos- 
pitable wcilcomc  they  had  received  the  year  befoi'e. 
Leaving  them  in  the  valley  of  the  San  floatjnin,  Fi-e- 
mont  proceeded  alone  to  jVlonterey,  to  make  known  to 
the  authorities  the  condition  of  his  l>Jirty,  iind  obtained 
permission  to  recruit  and  i)rocure  the  supplies  necessary 
to  j)roceed  on  his  exploration. 

Journeying  in  the  security  of  this  permission,  he  was 
suddenly  arrested  in  his  march,  near  Monterey,  by  an 
officer  at  the  head  of  a  body  of  cavalry,  ^vho  bore  him 
a  violent  message  from  the  commanding  officer  in  Cali- 
fornia— Gen.  Castro — commanding  him  to  retire  instant- 
ly from  the  country. 

This  message — peremptory  and  rude,  denouncing  the 
party  as  highwaymen  and  robbers,  and  inexplicable  to 
Fremont — was  the  I'csult  of  orders  from  the  city  of 
Mexico,  directing  thftt^  in  the  event  Fremont  repeated 
liis  visit  to  California,  he  and  his  ])arty  should  be  seized 
and  sent  pi-isoners  to  Mexico,  as  had  happened  to  Pike 
in  his  expedition  to  IS^aw  Mexico. 

The  General's  rude  message  met  with  a  suitable  re- 
sponse. Fremont  refused  to  follow  a  course  for  which 
he  was  totally  unprepared.  He  was  in  no  condition  to 
throw'  his  p;irty  into  the  desert  from  which  they  had 


104 


LIFK    AND    SKllVICKS    OF   JOHN    C.    FKI"-MONT. 


just  issued,  l)ut  retired  into  tlio  'vPico  del  Gabellan," 
(Hawk's  Peak),  a  rou^h  inouiitaiu  ovei'loukiiig  the 
|)laiiis  of  San  .Iiiaii  and  Moiitcrev.  lie  cliose,  near  the 
suinniit,  a  strong  posirion,  wliich  he  strengthened  by  a 
rude  fort  ol  felled  oak  tree'^,  over  which  he  hoisted  the 
American  Hag.  The  j)osirioii  was  strong,  powder  and 
ball  ])lenty,  and  the  men  were  the  flower  of  our  western 
frontier.  For  three  days  they  remained  encamped, 
during  which  they  saw  Castro,  at  the  mission  of  San 
Juan,  in  the  jdain  immediately  below  them,  preparing 
his  forces,  scaling  his  cannon,  and  gathering  in  the  force 
of  the  country,  which  lie  strengthened  by  Indians. 

The  country  was  thrown  into  great  excitement,  and 
the  serious  condition  of  affairs  is  very  clearly  shown  by 
the  following  letter  from  tiie  United  States  Consul  at 
ALonterev  to  the  Consul  at  !A[azatlan  : 


"  COSSCLATB  OF  THK   UNITED  STATBS, 

Monterey,  Caupor.nu,  ilarch  9,  1S46. 

"Sir:  Enclosed  with  this  you  will  receive  several  copies  of 
corres])ondeaco  in  this  town  for  the  present  week  ;  also  an  offi- 
cial letter  for  the  captain  of  any  of  our  ships-of-war  you  may 
have  in  your  port  on  your  receiving  this  letter.  It  is  impossible 
to  say  whether  Seiior  Castro,  the  Prefects  and  the  General  will 
attack  Captain  Fremont ;  we  expect  such  will  be  the  case. 

"I  am  just  informed  by  Senor  Arce,  the  general's  secretary, 
wlio  has  just  come  in  from  the  general's  camp,  (San  Juan),  that 
the  whole  country  will  be  niised  to  force  Capt.  Fremont,  if  they 
required  so  many.  Seno;-  Arce  further  says,  tliat  the  camp  of 
the  Americans  is  near  Mr.  Ilartwell's  raiu-ho  on  a  higli  hill, 
■with  his  tl;ig  living;  of  the  latter  I  am  not  certain.  x\s  you  aie 
acquainteil  with  this  country  and  its  people,  you  will  advise  with 
our  naval  captains  on  the  subject  of  sailing  immediately  for  this 
port. 


% 


TMIUD    KXIT.OUIXG    KXri:i)IT[ON'. 


135 


»> 


"If  tho  vessel  is  not  actuully  obliged  to  go  el.sowliore,  it  is  my 
earnest  desire  she  sails  for  Monterey  on  the   receipt   of  this, 
although  eveiTthing  may  end  ploasuntly  amongst  us. 
"  Believe  me  to  be,  yours  sincerely, 

"Thomas  O.  LvitKiN. 

"  To  John  Parrot,  Esq.,  United  States  Consul,  Mazatlan." 


Two  couriers  were  sent  to  Fremont's  camp  by  !^^r. 
Larkin.  One,  an  American,  failed  to  get  through ; 
the  other,  a  native  Californian,  succeeded  in  reaching 
his  camp,  after  a  narrow  escape  from  being  shot  by 
Fremont's  men. 

He  brought  back  a  note  in  pencil,  from  Captain  Fre- 
mont,* and  reported  that  two  thousand  of  his  country- 
men conld  not  compel  liim  to  leave  the  country,  although 
his  party  was  so  small. 

The  following  is  Fremont's  note  to  the  consul,  dated: 

♦'  March  10, 1S46. 

"My  Dkar  Sni:  I  this  moment  received  your  letters,  and 
without  wailing  to  read  them,  acknowledge  the  receipt,  which 
the  courier  requires,  immediately. 

"  I  am  making  myself  as  strong  as  possible,  in  the  intention 
that  if  we  are  unjustly  attacked,  we  will  fight  to  extremity,  and 
refuse  quarter,  trusting  to  our  country  to  avenge  our  death. 
No  one  has  reached  our  camp,  and  from  the  heights  we  are  able 
to  see  the  troops  (with  the  glass)  mustering  at  St.  John's  and 
preparing  cannon.  I  thank  you  ibr  your  kindness  and  good 
wishes,  and  would  write  more  at  length  as  to  my  intentions,  did 
I  not  fear  that  my  letter  would  be  intercepted.  We  have  in  no 
wise  done  wrong  to  the  people  or  the  authorities  of  the  country, 

*  These  papers  are  on  file  in  the  State  Department. 


«) 


130 


I.IFK    AND    Sr.IiVICKS    OF   JOHN   C.    FUF.NMXT. 


!■ 


« 


I 


nnd  if  we  nvo,  hommoil  in  and  ns^^riiiltod  Ikm'B,  wo  will  <lio,  every 
man  of  us,  imdor  tho  tl.iij  of  our  t'omitry. 

"  \'('IV  (I'll I V  VOUT!^, 

'•J.  C.    KUKMOXT. 

"Thomas  O.  Lmikix,  Ksij.,    Con.inl 
Jar  the  Iniilvil  States,  Monfcrci/.^^ 

They  riMiijiiiUMl  In  llu'ir  ciifiimpment  scvorsil  (IjiVf*,  In 
hourly  expcctiitioii  of  an  uttaclc.  Tlie  men  wci'o  stron«;ly 
disposed  to  surprise  Castro's  camp  in  the  niglit,  but 
Fremont  was  uiiwillin<^  to  compromise  his  government 
and  the  safety  of  the  settlers  in  the  country,  by  any 
violent  act  on  his  })art.  Towards  the  close  of  ti»e  fourth 
day,  wliile  they  sat  in  council  on  the  dilHculties  of  their 
pf)sition,  the  fla^  which  had  been  hoisted  on  a  tall 
saplinfi^  which  luid  been  trimmed  into  a  ilajj^-stafi",  sud- 
deidy  fell,  staff  and  all,  to  the  <j^round.  It  was  ominous. 
The  men  hooked  at  each  other  doubtingly,  and  Fremont 
with  great  presence  of  mind  availed  himself  of  the  inci- 
dent to  decide  their  course.  "  Men,"  said  he,  that 
means  saddle  np,'' — and  before  morning  they  were 
many  miles  distant  on  the  Hank  of  the  San  Joarpiin 
valley. 

During  the  night  u  messenger  from  Castro,  (Gilroy, 
of  the  valley  of  San  Juan),  reached  the  deserted  camj)^ 
where  he  found  the  fires  still  burning.  lie  bronght 
with  him  a  letter  from  Castro,  offering  to  Fremont  a 
cessation  of  hostilities,  and  proposing  they  should  join 
their  forces  and  declare  the  country  independent  of 
Mexico,  and  march  against  Governor  Pico,  who  was  in 
the  southern  part  of  the  territory. 

Fremont  now  quietly  and  without  molestation  conti- 
nued   his  journey   northward,    up    the    valley   of  the 


»•' 


TlllUn    KXl'LOIilVrt    FXIM'.DiriO.V. 


1  '"»■ 


Sacramento,  into  Oroij^on.  For  what  tollowod,  wo 
avail  ourselves  of  the  siiceiiiet,  hut  tlirilliii^i^  aoeoiuit 
^iveii  \)y  Col.  Heiitoti,  in  tho  second  voliinu*  of  his 
'' Thirty' Vears'  View." 


"  Turniri!^  liis  hack  on  tlie  Mexican  possessions,  and  looking;  to 
(>i'e<(on  as  the  tioM  of  his  future  labors,  Mr.  Kreinont  (.letoriniii(;il 
to  explore  a  new  route  to  the  Wah-lah-inath  settlements  and  the 
tide-water  rej^ion  of  the  Columbia,  through  the  wild  and  elevated 
rei>;ion  of  tiie  TIamath  lakes.  A  romantic  interest  attaclndl  to 
this  region  from  the  grandeur  of  its  features,  its  Itjfty  mountains 
and  snow -clad  peaks,  ;ind  from  the  formidable  character  of  its 
warlike  iiihabitatits.  In  tluj  tii'st  week  of  May  ho  was  at  tho 
north  end  of  the  great  Tiamath  lake,  and  in  Oregon — tho  lake 
being  cut  near  its  south  eml  hy  tho  paralhd  of  42''  north 
latitude.  On  the  eighth  day  of  that  nionlh  a  strange  sight 
presented  itself — almost  a  startling  appai'ition — two  men  riding*  up 
and  penetrating  a  region  which  few  ever  ajjproached  without  paying 
toll  of  life  or  blood.  They  proved  to  bo  two  of  Mr.  Fremont's 
old  voi/ar/citrs,  and  quii.'kly  told  their  story.  They  were  part  of 
a  guard  of  six  men  conducting  a  United  States  ollicer,  who  was 
on  liis  trail  with  desj)atches  from  Washington,  and  whom  they 
had  left  two  days  back,  while  they  came  on  to  give  notice  of  his 
approach,  and  to  ask  that  assistance  might  be  sent  him.  Thev 
themselves  had  only  esca})ot.l  the  Indians  hy  the  swiftness  of 
their  horses.  It  was  a  case  in  which  no  time  was  to  be  lost,  nor 
a  mistake  inad«\  ^[r.  Fremont  detei-mined  to  go  himself;  and 
taking  ten  picked  men,  four  of  them  Delaware  Indians,  he  took 
down  the  western  shore  of  the  lake  on  the  morning  of  the  Oth, 
(the  direction  the  olHcer  was  to  come),  and  made  a  ride  of  sixty 
miles  williout  a  halt.  But  to  meet  men,  and  not  to  miss  them, 
was  the  diilicult  point  in  this  trackless  region.  It  was  not  the 
case  of  a  higli  road,  where  all  travellers  must  meet  in  passing 
each  other:  at  intervals  there  were  places — defiles,  or  camping 


I 


I. 


ibS 


LIFK    AND    SKKVICKS    OF   JOHN    C.    FKKMoNT. 


groinuls — wlioro  both  parties  must  pass;  and  watcliincf  for 
tlii'so,  ho  caiuo  to  Olio  in  tlio  afternoon,  and  dcn-ided  lliat,  if  the 
j)arty  was  not  IcilK;!,  it  uuist  ho  there  that  niu^ht.      J[e  lialled 


and  encanipi'd  ;  aihl,  as  tlie  sun  was  i^oinj^  uown,  iiad  t,iie  inex- 
pressible saUstactii)n  to  see  the  four  men  approaehinn-.  Tlie 
otlicer  proved  to  be  a  lieutenant  of  the  United  8tatc;s  marines, 
Avlio  had  been  dispatehe;]  from  Washiuij^ton  the  Novtnnber  pi'o- 
vious,  to  make  his  way  by  Vera  (Jru/,  the  City  of  Mexico  and 
Mazathin,  to  .Nfonterey,  in  Upper  Cahfornia,  deliver  despat(dies 
to  the  Unitetl  States  consul  there;  anil  then  tind  Mr.  Fremont, 
wherever  he  should  be.  Hi-  despatches  for  Mr.  Fremont  were 
only  a  letter  of  introduction  from  the  Secretary  of  State,  (Mr. 
Buchanan),  and  some  letters  and  sli[)s  of  newspajiers  from 
Senator  Benton  and  his  family,  and  some  verbal  <'-ommuni(!ations 
from  the  Secietary  of  State.  The  verbal  communications  were 
that  Mr.  Freemont  should  watch  and  counteract  any  foreijrn 
scheme  on  California,  and  conciliate  the  good  will  of  the 
inhabitants  towards  the  United  States.  Uj)on  this  intimation  of 
the  cfovernment's  wishes,  Mr.  Fremont  turned  back  from  Ore- 
gon,  in  the  edge  of  which  he  then  was,  and  returned  to 
California.  The  letter  of  introdu(!tion  was  iti  the  common  form, 
that  it  might  tell  nothing  if  it  fell  into  the  hands  of  foes,  and 
signiiled  nothing  of  itself;  but  it  accredited  the  bearer,  and 
gave  the  stamp  of  authority  to  what  he  communicated  ;  and 
upon  this  Mr.  Fremont  acted  ;  for  it  was  not  to  be  supposed  that 
Lieut.  Gillespie  had  been  sent  so  far,  and  through  so  many  dan- 
gers, merely  to  deliver  a  common  letter  of  introduction  on  the 
eliores  of  the  Tlamath  lake." 


The  events  of  the  iiic'lit  referred  to  l)v  ^Mr.  ThmiIoii, 
and  of  a  few  siu'ceediii<!:  davs,  are  ii:i'aphic'allv  told  bv 
Carson  liimself,  in  an  article  furnished  to  the  Wasliino-- 
ton  Union  of  June  IGtli,  IS-iT,  from  wliich  we  make 
the  followinir  extract : 


for 

the 
tod 

lie 

U'S. 


TillllD    EXPI.OKINO    EXPEDITION. 


139 


(( ( 


Mr.  Gillespie  had  brouirlit  the  Colonel  letters  from  home — 
the  first  he  had  had  siii(;e  loaviiiir  the  States  the  year  before — 
and  he  was  up,  and  kept  a  lari^e  iiro  biiriiinL,^  until  after  niid- 
uiLjht ;  the  rest  of  us  were  tired  out,  and  all  went  to  sleep. 
'J'his  was  the  only  ni^'ht  in  all  our  travels,  e.\(;('j>t  the  one  night 
on  the  island  in  tlie  Salt  Lake,  that  we  faihid  to  ke<'p  u;uard  ; 
and  as  the  men  were  so  tired,  and  we  expeeteii  no  attack  now 
that  we  had  sixteen  in  the  party,  the  Colonel  didn't  like  to  ask 
it  of  them,  but  sat  up  late  himself.  Owens  and  I  were  sl(jej»ini^ 
too'cther,  and  we  were  waked  at  the  same  time  by  the  licks  of 
tlie  axe  that  killed  our  men.  At  first,  I  didn't  know  it  was 
that;  but  I  called  to  IJasil,  who  was  that  side — 'What's  the 
matter  there  ? — What's  that  fuss  about?' — he  never  answered, 
for  he  was  dead  then,  poor  fellow,  and  he  never  knew  what  killed 
him — his  head  had  bjen  cut  in,  in  his  sleep  ;  the  other  groaned 
a  little  as  he  died.  The  Delawares  (we  had  four  with  us)  were 
sleeping  at  that  fire,  and  they  sprang  up  as  the  Tlamaths  charged 
them.  One  of  them  caught  up  a  gun,  which  was  unIoad<!d; 
but,  although  he  coidd  do  no  execution,  he  kej>t  them  at  bay, 
fighting  like  a  soldier,  and  didn't  give  up  until  he  was  shot  full 
of  arrows — three  entering  his  lioart;  he  dierl  bi-avelv.  As  soon 
as  1  had  called  out,  I  saw  it  was  [ndians  in  the  camp,  and  I  and 
Owens  tom'ther  cried  out  'Indians.'  'Jhero  were  no  orders 
given  ;  things  went  on  too  fast,  and  the  Colonel  had  men  with 
him  that  didn't  need  to  be  told  their  duty.  The  Colonal  and  I, 
Maxwell,  Owens,  Godey,  and  Stepp,  jumped  together,  we  six, 
and  ran  to  the  assistance  of  our  Delawares.  I  don't  know  who 
fired  and  w-ho  didn't;  but  I  think  it  was  Stepp's  shot  that  killed 
the  TIaniath  chief;  for  it  was  at  the  crack  of  Stepp's  gun  that 
he  fell.  He  had  an  English  half-axe  slung  to  his  wrist  bv  a 
cord,  anJ  there  were  forty  arrows  left  in  his  quiver — the  most 
beautiful  and  warlike  arrows  I  ever  saw.  lie  must  have  been 
the  bravest  man  among  them,  from  the  way  he  was  aimed,  and 
judging  by  his  cap.     When  the  Tlamaths  saw  him  fall,  they 


140 


LIFE    AND    SERVICES  OF   JOHN    C.    FKEMONT. 


1 .' 


tm 


f, 


.: 


,   1;.. 


i 


:ii 


-^1 


UJ; 


ran  ;  but  we  lay,  every  man  with  iiis  rifle  cocked,  until  daylight, 
expecting  another  attack. 

" '  In  the  morning  we  found  by  the  tracks  tliat  from  fifteen  to 
twenty  of  the  Tlamaths  had  attacked  us.  They  had  killed  three 
of  our  men,  and  wounded  one  of  the  Delawares,  who  scali)ed 
the  chief,  whom  we  left  where  he  fell.  Our  dead  men  we  car- 
ried on  mules  ;  but,  after  going  about  ten  miles,  we  found  it 
impossible  to  get  them  any  farther  through  the  thick  timber, 
and  finding  a  secret  place,  we  buried  them  under  logs  and 
chunks,  having  no  way  to  dig  a  grave.  It  was  only  a  few  days 
before  this  fight  that  some  of  these  same  Indians  had  come  into 
our  camp ;  and,  although  we  had  only  meat  for  two  days,  and 
felt  sure  that  we  should  have  to  eat  mules  for  ten  or  fifteen  days 
to  come,  the  Colonel  divided  with  them,  and  even  had  a  mule 
unpacked  to  give  them  some  tobacco  and  knives.' 

"  The  pai'ty  then  retraced  its  way  into  California,  and  two 
days  after  this  lencontre  they  met  a  large  villao;e  of  Tlamaths — 
more  than  a  hundred  warriors.  Carson  was  ahead  with  ten 
men,  but  one  of  them  having  been  discovered,  he  could  not  fol- 
low his  orders,  which  were  to  send  back  word  and  let  Fremont 
come  up  with  the  rest  in  case  they  found  Indians.  But  as  thoy 
had  been  seen,  it  only  remained  to  charo'e  the  villao'e,  which 
they  did,  kiliinn;  many,  and  puttinij  the  rest  to  fliojlit.  The 
women  and  children,  Carson  says,  we  didn't  interfere  with  ;  but 
they  buint  the  village,  together  with  their  canoes  and  fishing 
nets.  In  a  subsequent  encounter,  the  same  day,  Carson's  life 
was  imminently  exposed.  As  they  galloped  up  he  was  rather  in 
advance,  when  he  observed  an  Indian  fixing  his  arrow  to  let  fly 
at  him.  Carson  levelled  his  rifle,  but  it  snapped,  and  in  an 
instant  the  arrow  would  have  pierced  him,  had  not  Fremont, 
seeing  the  danger,  dashed  his  horse  on  the  Indian  and  knocked 
I  owe  my  life   to   them  two,'  says  Caison — '  the 


him  down, 

Ct'ionel    and    Sacramento   saved   me. 


acramcnto   is  a   noble 


Californian  horse  which  Captain  Sutter  gave  to  Colonel  Fremont 


TUIRD   EXPLORING   EXPEDITION". 


141 


M, 


in  1844,  and  which  has  twice  made  the  distance  between  Ken- 
tncky  and  his  native  valley,  where  he  earned  his  name  by  swirn- 
mintr  tiie  river  after  which  he  is  called,  at  the  close  of  a  long 
day's  journey.  Notwithstanding  all  his  hardshijis — for  he  has 
travelled  everywhere  with  his  master — lie  is  still  the  favorite 
horse  of  Colonel  Fremont." 

We  resume  the  extract  from  Benton's  "  Thirty  Years' 
"V'iew:" 

"  It  was  in  the  midst  of  such  dangers  as  these,  that  science 
was  pui'sued  by  Mr.  Fremont ;  that  the  telescope  was  carried  to 
read  the  heavens;  the  barometer  to  measure  the  elevations  of 
the  earth  ;  the  thermometer  to  gauge  the  temperature  of  the 
air ;  the  pencil  to  sketch  the  giandeur  of  mountains,  and  to 
paint  the  beauty  of  floweis  ;  the  pen  to  write  down  whatever 
was  new,  or  strange,  or  useful  in  the  works  of  nature.  It  was 
in  the  midst  of  such  dangers,  and  such  occupations  as  tliese,  and 
in  the  wildest  regions  of  the  Farthest  West,  that  Mr.  Fremont 
was  pursuing  science  and  shunning  war,  when  the  arrival  of 
Lieutenant  Gillespie,  and  his  communications  fj'ora  Washington, 
suddenly  changed  all  his  plans,  turned  him  back  from  Oregon, 
and  opened  a  new  and  splendid  field  of  operations  in  California 
itself.  He  arrived  in  the  valley  of  the  Sacramento  in  the  month 
of  May,  1846,  and  found  the  country  alarmingly  and  critically 
situated.  Three  great  operations,  fatal  to  American  interests, 
were  then  going  on,  and  without  remedy,  if  not  arrested  at  once. 
Tbcse  wei'e — 1.  The  massacre  of  the  Americans,  and  the 
destruction  of  their  settlements,  in  the  valley  of  the  Sacramento. 
2.  The  subjection  of  California  to  British  protection.  3.  The 
transfer  of  the  public  domain  to  British  subjects.  And  all  this 
with  a  view  to  anticipate  the  events  of  a  Mexican  war,  and  to 
shelter  California  from  the  arms  of  the  United  States. 

"  The  American  settlers  sent  a  deputation  to  the  camp  of  Mr. 
Fremont,  in  the  valley  of  the  Sacramento,  laid  all  these  dangers 


t   iii 


'1 


142 


LIFE   AND   SERVICES   OF  JOHN   C.    FREMONT. 


|i     i 


I  1   \i 


'!« 


w 


n  i! 


before  him,  and  inijtlored  liim  to  place  himself  at  their  head  and 
save  them  from  destruction.  General  Castro  was  then  in  march 
upon  them  :  the  Indians  were  incited  to  attack  their  t;nnilie3, 
and  burn  iheir  wl)eat-fields,  and  were  only  waiting  for  the  dry 
season  to  apply  tlie  torch.  Juntas  wei-e  in  session  to  trans- 
fer the  country  to  Great  Britain  :  the  public  domain  was  passing 
away  in  large  grants  to  British  subjects :  a  British  lleet  was 
expected  on  the  coast ;  the  British  vice-consul,  Forbes  and  the 
emissary  priest,  Macnamarn,  ruling  and  conducting  every- 
thing, and  all  their  plans  so  far  advanced  as  to  render  the 
least  delay  fatal.  It  was  then  the  beginning  of  June.  War  had 
broke  out  between  the  United  States  and  Mexico,  but  that  was 
unknown  in  California.  Mr.  Fremont  had  left  the  two  countries 
at  peace  when  he  set  out  upon  his  expedition,  and  was  determined 
to  do  nothinnr  to  disturb  their  relations:  he  had  even  left 
California  to  avoid  giving  oflence  ;  and  to  return  and  take  up 
arms  in  so  short  a  time  was  apparently  to  discredit  his  own  pre- 
vious conduct,  as  well  as  to  implicate  his  government.  He  felt 
all  the  responsibilities  of  his  position  ;  but  the  actual  approach 
of  Castro,  and  the  immediate  danger  of  the  settlers,  left  him  no 
alternative.  lie  determined  to  put  himself  at  the  head  of  the 
people,  and  to  save  the  country.  To  repulse  Castro  was  not 
sufficient :  to  overturn  the  Mexican  government  in  California, 
and  to  establish  Californian  Independence,  was  the  bold  resolve, 
and  the  only  measure  adequate  to  the  emergency.  That  resolve 
was  taken,  and  executed  with  a  celerity  that  gave  it  a  romantic 
fiuc(!ess.  The  American  settlers  rushed  to  his  camp — brought 
their  arms,  horses  and  atnmunition — were  formed  into  a  battal- 
ion ;  and  obeved  with  zeal  and  alacritv  the  orders  thev  received. 
In  thirty  days  all  the  northern  part  of  California  was  freed  from 
Mexican  authority — Independence  proclaimed  —  the  flag  of 
Independence  raised — Castro  flying  to  the  south — the  American 
settlers  saved  from  destruction ;  and  the  British  party  in 
California  counteracted  and  broken  up  in  all  their  schemes. 
"This   movement  for  independence   was    the    salvation   of 


TIIinD    KXPLORING    EXPEDITION. 


143 


California,  and  snatclied  it  out  of  the  hands  of  the  British  at  the 
moment  thev  were  readv  to  clutch  it.  For  two  Imixli-ed  vears — 
from  the  time  of  the  navii^ator  Drake,  who  almost  claimed  it  as 
a  discovery  and  jtlacrd  the  English  name  of  Now  Albion  upon 
it — the  eye  of  Engl'ind  has  been  upon  California;  and  the  mag- 
niti(rent  bay  of  S'Ui  Francisco,  the  g-reat  .seaport  of  the  North 
Pacific  Ocean,  has  been  surveyed  as  her  own.  The  approaching 
war  between  Mexico  and  the  United  States  was  the  crisis  in 
which  she  expected  to  realize  the  long-deTorred  wish  for  its 
acquisition  ;  and  carefully  she  took  her  measures  accordingly. 
She  sent  two  squadions  to  the  Pacific  as  soon  as  Texas  was 
incorporated — well  seeing  the  actual  war  which  was  to  grow 
out  of  tliat  event — a  small  one  into  the  mouth  of  the  Colurabia, 
an  im]>osing  one  to  Mnzatlan,  on  the  Mexican  coast,  to  watch 
the  United  States  squadron  there,  and  to  anticipate  its  move- 
ments upon  California.  Commodoie  Sloat,  commanding  the 
squadron  at  Mazatlan,  s.'w  that  he  was  watched,  and  pursued  by 
Admiral  Seymour,  wlio  lay  along  side  of  hi?n,  and  he  determin- 
ed to  deceive  him.  lie  stood  out  to  sea,  and  was  followed  bv  the 
British  Admiral. 

"During  the  day  he  bore  west,  across  the  ocean,  as  if  going. 
to  the  Sandwich  Islands:  Admiral  Seymour  followed.  In  the 
night  the  American  commodore  tacked,  and  ran  up  the  coast 
towards  California:  the  British  Admiral,  not  seeing  the  tack, 
continued  on  his  course,  and  went  entirely  to  the  Sandwich 
Islands  before  he  was  undeceived.  Commodore  Sloat  arrived 
before  Monterey  on  the  second  of  July,  entering  that  port  ami- 
cably, and  oftering  to  salute  the  town,  which  the  authorities 
declined  on  the  pi-etext  that  they  had  no  powder  to  return  it — 
in  reality  because  they  momentarily  expected  the  British  fleet. 
Commodore  Sloat  remained  five  days  before  the  town,  and  until 
he  lieard  of  Fremont's  operations ;  then  believing  that  Fremont 
had  orders  from  his  government  to  take  California,  he  having 
none  himself,  he  determined  to  act  himself.  He  received  the 
news  of  Fremont's  successes  on  the  6th  day  of  July :  on  the  7th 


144 


LIFE   AND   SERVICES    OF   JOHN    C.    FRICMONT. 


!  ;■: 


♦ 


ii'i 


lie  took  the  town  of  Monterey,  and  sent  a  (iisj)atcli  to  Fremont. 
Tlie  latter  came  to  him  in  al!  speed,  at  the  head  of  his  mounted 
force,     (jroing  immediately  on  board  the  commodore's  vessel,  an 
exphmation  took  place.     The  commodore  learnt  with  astonish- 
ment that  Fremont  had  no  orders  from  his  government  to  com- 
mence hostilities — that  he  acted  entirely  on  his  own   responsi- 
bility.    This  left  the  commodore  without  authority  for  having 
taken  Monterey  ;  for  still  at  this  time,  the  commencement  of  the 
war  with    Mexico  was  unknown.     Uneasiness  came  upon  the 
commodore.      lie  remembered    the   fate  of  Captain  Jones  in 
making  the  mistake  of  seizing  the  town   once  before  in  time  of 
peace,     lie  resolved  to  return   to  the  United  States,  which  he 
did — turning  over  the  command  of  the  squadron  to  Commodore 
Stockton,  who  had  arrived  on  the  15th.     The  next  day  (16th) 
Admiral  Seymour  arrived  ;  his  flagship,  the  Collingwood,  of  80 
guns,  and  his  squadron  the  largest  British  fleet  ever  seen  in  the 
Pacific.     To  his  astonishment  he  beheld  the  American  flag  flying 
over  Monterey,  the  American  squadron  in  its  harbor,  and  Fre- 
mont's mounted  riflemen  encamped  over  the  town.     Ilis  mission 
was  at  an  end.     The  prize  had  escaped  him.     lie  attempted 
nothing  further,  and  Fremont  and  Stockton  rapidly  pressed  the 
conquest  of  California  to  its  conclusion.     The  subsequent  mili- 
taiy  events  can  be  traced  by  any  history  ;  they  were  the  natural 
sequence  of  the  great  measure  conceived  and  executed  by  Fre- 
mont before  any  squadron  had  arrived  upon  the  coast,  before  he 
knew  of  any  war  with  Mexico,  and  without  any  authority  f. ->ra 
his  government,  except  the  equivocal  and  enigmatical  visit  of  Mr. 
Gillespie.     Before  the  junction  of  Mr.  Fremont  with  Commodores 
Sloat  and  Stockton,  his  operations  had  been  carried  on  under  the 
flag   of  Independence — the  Bear   Flag,  as  it  was  called — the 
device  of  the  bear  being  adopted  on  account  of  the  courageous 
qualities  of  that  animal  (the  white  bear),  which  never  gives  the 
road  to  men — which  attacks  any  number — and  fights  to  the  last 
with  increasing  ferocity,  with  amazing  strength  of  muscle,  and 
with  an  incredible  tenacity  of  the  vital  principle — never  more 


Ml 


k^ 


THIRD   EXPLORING    EXPEDITION. 


U5 


-    H 

i  2 


formidable  and  dangerous  than  wlien  mortally  wounded.  Tho 
Independents  took  the  deviee  of  this  bear  for  their  flag,  and 
established  the  indej)endence  of  California  under  it :  and  in  join- 
ing the  United  States  forces,  hauled  down  this  flag  and  lioisted 
the  flag  of  the  United  States.  And  the  fate  of  California  wouhJ 
have  been  the  same  wlietlier  the  United  States  sijuadrons  had 
arrived  or  not,  and  whether  the  \  exican  war  had  happened  or 
not.  California  was  in  a  revolutionary  state,  already  divided 
from  Mexico  politically,  as  it  had  always  been  geographically. 
Tlie  last  governor-general  from  Mexico,  Don  Michel  Toreno,  had 
been  resisted,  fought,  captured  and  shipped  back  to  Mexico,  with 
his  300  cut-throat  soldiers.  An  insurgent  government  was  in 
o})eration,  determined  to  be  free  of  Mexico,  sensible  of  inability 
to  stand  alone,  and  looking,  part  to  the  United  States,  part  to 
Great  Britain  for  the  support  which  they  needed.  All  the 
American  settlers  were  for  the  United  States  protection  and 
joined  Fremont.  The  leading  Californians  were  also  joining 
him.  His  conciliatory  course  drew  them  rapidly  to  him.  The 
Picos  who  were  ♦he  leading  men  of  the  revolt  (Don  Pio,  Don 
Andres,  and  Don  Jesus,)  became  his  friends.  California,  became 
independent  of  Mexico  by  the  revolt  of  the  Picos,  and  indepen- 
dent of  them  by  the  revolt  of  the  American  settlers,  had  its  des- 
tiny to  fulfill — which  was,  to  be  handed  over  to  the  United  States. 
So  that  its  incorporation  with  the  American  Republic  was 
equally  sure  in  any  and  every  event." 


The  following  incident  illustrates  the  conciliatory 
poUcy  of  Col.  Fremont,  towards  the  Picos,  which  Col. 
Benton  refers  to  in  the  last  preceding  paragraph,  as  well 
as  the  sagacity  and  judgment — to  say  nothing  of  the 
generosity  with  which  he  discharged  his  duties  as 
an  officer  during  this  critical  period. 

Ono  of  the  Picos,  the  brother  of  the  governor  of 
California,  had  been  dismissed  by  Fremont  on  parole, 


146 


LIFE   AND   SERVICES   OF   JOHN   C.    FREMONT. 


and  was  recjiptiircd  in  the  act  of  bronlclng  it.  lie  whs 
licjuling  an  insurrection  which  niiglit  liave  [)rovc(l  fatal 
to  the  American  army;  and  the  Anierican  soUliera 
chiniored  for  his  head.  Pico  was  brought  before  Fre- 
mont, identified,  tried  by  a  court  inurtiul,  and  condemned 
to  death.  Tiirougli  the  whole  examination  and  the  deli- 
very of  the  sentence,  he  remained  cool  and  com- 
posed, and  received  his  hist  sentence  with  trno  Castilian 
dignity.  The  hour  of  twelve  was  fixed  for  the  execu- 
tion. About  an  hour  before,  an  unusual  noise  was  heard 
without,  and  before  one  had  time  to  ascertain  its  cause, 
a  company  of  ladies  and  children  rushed  into  the  room 
to  which  the  colonel  had  retired,  threw  themselves  on 
their  knees,  and  with  the  eloquence  which  only  such  an 
emergency  could  inspire,  begged  that  the  husband  and 
father  might  be  spared.  The  stern  officer  who  was  him- 
self both  a  hnsband  and  a  father,  and  wliose  thoughts 
were  suddenly  hurried  back  over  the  wilderness,  and 
the  mountain,  to  their  distant  homes  in  the  East,  Avas 
unprepared  for  this  appeal,  and  surrendered  to  the 
impulses  of  humanity  without  resistance.  Raising  the 
broken  hearted  mother,  he  exclaimed,  but  with  choaking 
utterance,  "  he  is  pardoned."  He  would  have  turned 
to  escape  the  grateful  blessings  which  were  invoked  upon 
his  head,  and  from  witnessing  the  tears  of  joy  which  fol- 
lowed the  tears  of  despair,  from  their  now  delighted  eyes, 
but  they  would  not  permit  it.  As  the  shortest  and  fit- 
test way  of  closing  the  trying  scene.  Col.  Fremont  sent 
for  the  prisoner  to  receive  his  pardon,  in  the  presence 
of  his  family.  When  Pico  entered  the  room,  the 
countenances  of  all  present  told  him  of  his  good  for- 
tune, and  when  it  was  confirmed  by  the  word  of  the 
Colonel,  he  was  for  a  moment  speechless.     He  had 


THIRD   EXPLORING   EXPEDITION. 


U7 


borne  misfortune  and  disgrace  with  firmness,  hut  the 
news  of  his  pardon  was  too  much  for  liim.  Overcome 
with  emotion,  lie  llun<^  liimsolf  upon  the  floor  heforo 
Cohmel  Fremont,  chisped  his  knees  convulsively,  swore 
eternal  fidelity  to  liiin  and  his,  and  begged  the  privi- 
h'ge  of  fighting  and  dying  for  him.  From  that  day 
forth,  Col.  Frempnt  had  no  firmer  friend  than  his  for- 
mer inveterate  antagonist,  Pico. 

The  prudence,  heroism,  skill,  and  endurance  dis- 
phiyed  by  Col.  Fremont,  in  the  conquest  of  California, 
furnished  the  administration  at  Washington,  with  one 
of  its  most  grateful  and  decisive  triumphs.  The  follow- 
ing passages  from  the  annual  report  of  Mr.  Marcy,  then 
Secretary  of  "War,  bearing  date  December  6th,  1846,  will 
show  the  importance  which  President  Polk  and  his 
cabinet,  attached  to  the  services  of  the  young  hero,  in 
securing  that  triumph. 


MR.  MARCy's    RKPORT   ON    FREMONt's    EXPLORATIONS. 


War  Department,  Dec.  5,  1846, 
****** 

"In  May,  1845,  .Tohn  C.  Fremont,  then  a  brevet  captain  in  the 
corps  of  Topographical  Engineers,  and  since  appointed  a  lieu- 
tenant colonel,  left  here  under  orders  from  this  department  to 
pursue  his  explorations  in  the  regions  beyond  the  Rocky  Moun- 
tains. The  objects  of  this  service  were,  as  those  of  his  previous 
explorations  had  been,  of  a  scientifi(;  character,  without  any  view 
whatever  to  tnilitarv  operations.  Not  an  officer  nor  soldier  of 
the  United  States  army  accompanied  him  ;  and  his  whole  force 
consisted  of  sixty-two  men,  employed  by  himself  for  security 
ao-ainst  Indians,  and  for  procuring^  subsistence  in  the  wilderness 
and  desert  country  through  which  he  was  to  pass. 

"  One  of  the  objects  he  had  in  view  was  to  discover  a  new  and 


'    ill 

f 

I 


14S 


LITE    AXD   fiFRVTCKS    OF   JOHN   C.    I- TTTTlSroXT. 


pliorter  route  from  llio  western  baso  of  tlio  Rocky  Mountains  to 
tlio  inoutlj  of  the  ColutnMa  river.     This  search,  for  a  part  of  the 


(list 


Itlco 


wonlfl  carrv  him  throiiijh  the  unsettled,  and  afterward 


thri)Uiy;h  a  corner  of  the  settled  parts  of  CaHfornia.  lie 
approached  these  settk'metits  in  the  winter  of  1845-'({.  Aware 
of  the  critical  state  of  ntfaira  between  the  Uiiited  States  an*! 
Mexi(!0,  and  determined  to  yive  no  cause  of  offence  to  the 
authorities  of  the  jtrovince,  with  commendMhle  prudence  he 
lialted  liis  commaml  on  the  frontier,  one  hundred  miles  t'rom 
Monterey,  and  procee(h'd  alone  to  that  city  to  exphiin  the  ol»ject 
of  his  coming  to  the  commatKhmt  iijeneral,  Castro,  and  to  obtain 
j»ermission  to  ^o  to  tiie  valley  of  the  San  Joaqnim,  where  there 
was  game  for  his  men  and  i^rass  for  his  liorses,  and  no  inhabi- 
tants to  be  molested  by  his  presence.  'J'he  leave  was  granted ; 
but  scarcely  liad  ho  reached  the  desired  spot  for  refreshment  and 
rejH)se,  before  he  received  information  from  the  American  settle- 
ments, and  by  ex})resses  fmm  our  Consul  at  Monterey,  that 
(jreneral  Castro  was  prei)ai'ing  to  attack  him  with  a  compara- 
tively large  forco  of  artillery,  cavalry  and  infantry,  upon  the 
jiretext  that,  under  the  cover  of  a  scientific  mission,  he  was 
exciting  the  American  settlers  to  revolt.  In  view  of  this  danger 
and  to  be  in  a  condition  to  repel  an  attack,  he  then  took  a  position 
on  a  mountain  overlookinsj  Monterev,  at  a  distance  of  about 
tliirty  miles,  entrenche<l  it,  raised  the  flag  of  the  United  States, 
and  with  his  own  men,  sixty-two  in  number,  awaited  the 
approach  of  the  (commandant  general. 

From  the  7th  to  the  10th  of  March,  Colonel  Fremont  and  his 
little  band  maintained  this  position.  General  Castro  did  not 
approach  within  attacking  distance,  and  Colonel  Fremont,  adher- 
ing to  his  plan  of  avoiding  all  collisions,  and  determined  neither 
tocompromit  his  governmont  nor  the  American  settlers,  ready  to 
join  him  at  all  hazards,  if  he  had  been  attacked,  abandoned  his 
position,  and  commenced  his  march  for  Oregon,  intending  by 
that  route  to  return  to  the  United  States.  Deeminof  all  danger 
from  the  Mexicans  to  be  passed,  he  yielded  to  the  wishes  of  some 


\ 


».  s 


C0NQUK8T   OF    CALIFORNIA. 


14J) 


* 


of  his  tiK^ti  wlio  (IcsiicMl  to  roiimin  in  tlio  comitry,  diH('liarL':»Hl 
tluMM  iVoiii  Ills  service,  nnd  ret'tiseil  to  ri'ccivo  otlu'i-s  iu  tlioir 
stead,  so  cautious  was  lie  to  avoid  doiiii,'  aiiythiii!,'  wiiidi  would 
coiDnnmiit  the  American  settlers  or  ufive  even  a  color  of  ortl-iice 
to  the  Mexican  autliorilies.  lie  pursued  liis  march  slowly  and 
leisurely,  as  the  state  of  his  men  and  horsi's  r»'(|uired,  until  tho 
middle  of  May,  and  liad  reachoil  the  northern  shore  of  tho 
g-reater  Tlamath  Lake,  within  the  limits  of  the  r)reL(ot»  Territory, 
when  lie  found  his  further  projrross  in  that  direction  obstructed 
bv  impassable  snowv  mountains  and  hostile  Indians,  who,  havin<i' 
been  excited  against  iiim  by  General  Castro,  had  killed  and 
wounded  four  of  his  men,  and  left  him  no  repose  either  in  camp 
or  on  his  march.  At  the  saiyo  time  information  reached  him 
that  General  Castro,  in  addition  to  his  Indian  allies,  was  atlvanu- 
in<j;  in  person  against  him  with  artillery  and  cavalry,  at  the  head 
of  four  or  five  hundred  men  ;  that  they  were  passing  around  tho 
head  of  the  liay  of  San  Francisco  to  a  rendezvous  on  the  north 
side  of  it,  and  that  the  American  settlers  in  the  valley  of  tho 
Sacramento  were  com^jrehended  in  the  scheme  of  destructiou 
meditated  against  his  own  party. 

Under  these  circumstances,  he  determined  to  turn  upon  his 
Mexican  pursuers,  and  seek  safety  both  for  his  own  party  and  the 
American  settlers,  not  merely  in  the  defeat  of  Castro,  but  in  the 
total  overthrow  of  the  Mexican  authority  in  California,  and  the 
establishment  of  an  independent  government  in  that  extensive 
department.  It  was  on  the  6th  of  June,  and  before  the  com- 
mencement of  the  war  between  the  United  States  and  Mexico 
could  liave  there  be  known,  that  this  resolution  was  taken  ;  and, 
by  the  5th  of  July,  it  was  carried  into  eli'ect  by  a  series  of  rapid 
attacks,  by  a  small  body  of  adventurous  men,  under  thecondiict 
of  an  intrepid  leader,  quick  to  perceive  and  able  to  direct  the 
proper  measures  for  accomplishing  sucli  a  daring  enter2)rise. 

On  the  11th  of  June  a  convoy  of  200  horses  for  Castro's 
camp,  with  an  officer  and  14  men,  were  surprised  and  captured 
by  12  of  Fremont's  party.     On  the  15th,  at  daybreak,  the  military 


i!   \m 


150 


LIFE   AND   SERVICES   OF   JOHN   C.    FREMONT. 


:l|i 


n.  ,1 


h  w 


\i  )l 


It  * 


post  of  Sanorr.a  was  also  surprised  and  taken,  with  nine  brass 
cannon,  250  stand  of  muskets,  and  several  officers  and  some  men 
and  munitions  of  war. 

"  Leaving  a  small  garrison  at  Sanoma,  Colonel  Fremont  went  to 
the  Sacramento  to  rouse  the  American  settlers;  but  scarcely 
had  he  arrived  there,  when  an  express  reached  him  from  the 
garrison  at  Sanoma,  witli  information  that  Castro's  whole  force 
was  crossing  the  bay  to  attack  that  place.  This  intelligence  was 
received  in  the  afternoon  of  the  23d  of  June,  while  he  was  on 
the  American  fork  of  the  Sacramento,  80  nnles  from  the  little 
garrison  at  Sanoma ;  and,  at  2  o'clock  on  the  morning  of  the 
25th,  he  arrived  at  tliat  place  with  90  riflemen  from  the  Ameri- 
can settlers  in  that  valley.  The  enemy  had  not  yet  appeared. 
Scouts  were  sent  out  to  reconnoitre,  and  a  party  of  20  fell  in 
with  a  squadron  of  10  dragoons  (all  of  Castro's  force  which  had 
crossed  the  bay),  attacked  and  defeated  it,  killing  and  wounding 
five,  without  harm  to  themselves;  the  Mexican  commander,  De 
la  Torre,  bajely  escaping  with  the  loss  of  his  transport  boats  and 
nine  places  of  brass  artillery,  spiked. 

*•  The  coiintry  north  of  the  bay  of  San  Francisco  being  cleared 
of  the  enemy.  Colonel  Fremont  returned  to  Sanoma  on  the  even- 
ing of  the  4th  of  July,  and  on  the  morning  of  the  5th,  called  the 
people  together,  explained  to  them  the  condition  of  things  in 
the  province,  and  recommended  an  immediate  declaration  of 
independence.  The  declaration  was  made,  and  he  was  selected 
to  take  the  chief  direction  of  affairs. 

"  The  attack  on  Castro  was  the  next  object.  He  was  at  Santa 
Clara,  an  entrenched  post  on  the  upper  or  south  siue  of  the 
Bay  of  San  Francisco,  with  400  men  and  two  pieces  of  field 
artillery.  A  circuit  of  more  than  a  hundred  miles  must  be 
traversed  to  reach  him.  On  the  6th  of  July  the  pursuit  was 
commenced,  by  a  body  of  IGO  mounted  riflemen,  commanded 
by  Colonel  Fremont  in  person,  who,  in  three  days,  arrived 
at  the  American  settlements  on  the  Rio  de  los  Americanos. 
Here  he  learnt  that  Castro  had  abandoned  Santa  Clara,  and  was 


CONQUEST   OF   CALIFORNIA. 


151 


retreating  south  towards  Ciudad  de  loa  Angeles  (the  city  of  the 
Angels),  the  seat  of  the  Governor  General  of  the  Californias,  and 
distant  400  miles.  It  was  instantly  resolved  on  to  pursue  him 
to  that  place.  At  the  moment  of  departure  the  gratifying  intel- 
ligence was  received  that  war  with  Mexico  had  commenced ; 
that  Monterev  ha<]  been  taken  by  our  naval  force,  and  the  flag 
of  the  United  States  there  raised  on  the  7ch  of  Julv;  and  that 
the  fleet  would  co-operate  in  the  pursuit  of  Castro  and  his  forces. 
The  flag  of  independence  was  hauled  down,  and  that  of  the 
United  States  hoisted,  amidst  the  hearty  greetings  and  to  the 
great  joy  of  the  American  settlers  and  the  forces  under  the  com- 
mand of  Colonel  Fremont. 

"The  combined  pursuit  was  rapidly  continued;  and  on  the 
12 th  of  August,  Commodore  Stockton  and  Colonel  Fremont, 
with  a  detachment  of  marines  from  the  squadron  and  some  rifle- 
men, entered  the  City  of  the  Angels,  without  resistance  or  objec- 
tion ;  the  Governor  General,  Pico,  the  Commandant  General 
Castro  and  all  the  Mexican  authorities,  having  fled  and  dispersed. 
Commodore  Stockton  took  possession  of  the  whole  country  as  a 
conquest  of  the  United  States,  and  appointed  Colonel  Fremont 
Governor,  under  the  law  of  nations ;  to  assume  the  functions  of 
that  office  when  he  should  return  to  the  squadron. 

"  Thus,  in  the  short  space  of  sixty  days  from  the  first  decisive 
movement,  this  conquest  was  achieved  by  a  small  body  of  men, 
to  an  extent  beyond  their  own  expectation ;  for  the  Mexican 
authorities  proclaimed  it  a  conquest,  not  merely  of  the  northern 
part,  but  of  the  whole  province  of  the  Californias. 

"  The  Commandant  General,  Castro,  on  the  9th  of  August, 
from  his  camp  at  the  Mesa,  and  next  day  'on  the  road  to 
Sonora,'  announced  this  result  to  the  people,  together  with  the 
pctual  flight  and  dispersion  of  the  former  authorities;  and  at  the 
same  time,  he  officially  coininunicated  the  fact  of  the  conquest  to 
the  French,  English,  and  Spanish  Consuls  in  California ;  and 
to  crown  the  whole,  the  official  paper  of  the  Mexican  govern- 
ment, on  the  16th  of  October,  in  laying  these  official  communi- 


^ 

I 

niBHrT 

Ifj 

'■Hfi 

>'flH^E£ 

.j 

'IBti 

)"! 

'^Vi^^EH 

i 

I: 


b 


152 


UFE   AND   8EEVICES   OF   JOHN    C.    FREMONT. 


cations  before  the  public,  introduced  them  with  the  emphatic 

declaration,  '  The   loss  of  the  Californias   is   consummated.' 

"  The  whole  province  was  yielded  up  to  the  United  States,  and  is 

now   in  our  military  occupancy.     A  small  part  of  the    troops 

sent  out  to  subject  this  province  will  constitute,  it  is  presumed,  a 

sufficient  force  to  retain  our  possession,  and  the  remainder  will 

be  disposable  for  other  objects  of  the  war. 

********* 

"W.  L.  Marct. 

**  To  THE  PUESIDENT  OF  THE  UnITKD  StATES." 

The  extraordinary  journey  of  Fremont,  with  ninety 
riHemen,  to  succor  the  American  garrison  at  Sanoma> 
which  the  Secretary  of  AVar  deems  worthy  of  such 
specitic  commendation,  was  altogether  surpassed,  a 
few  mouths  later,  when  impelled  by  motives  equally 
humane  and  patriotic,  he  rode  nine  hundred  and  sixty 
miles  in  seven  days,  through  a  rough  aud  dangerous 
country,  to  inform  General  Kearney  of  an  impending 
insurrection  in  Lower  California.  An  account  of  this 
extraordinary  feat,  in  which,  however,  the  distance  is 
under-stated,  was  prepared  for  the  Washington  Imelli- 
gencer  in  1848,  by  one  who  became  acquainted  wiih 
the  incidents  from  the  lips  of  one  of  the  party,  and  is 
every  way  worthy  of  being  preserved  among  the 
choicest  memorials  of  the  young  conqueror  and  explorer 
of  California.  We  quote  it  as  published  in  the  National 
Intelligencer  of  Nov.  22,  1847. 

The  Extraordinary  Ride  of  Lieut.  Col.  Fremont,  his  friend 
Don  Jesl's  Pico,  and  his  Servant,  Jacob  Dodson,  from 
Los  Angeles  to  Monterey  and  Back  in  March,  1847. 

"This  extraordinary  ride  of  800  miles  in  pioht  days,  inchiding 
all  stopp:ii;e8  and  near  two  days'  detention — a  whole  day  aud 


EXTKAORDINARY   KIDE. 


153 


I 


a  niglit  at  Monterey,  and  nearly  two  halt'  days  at  San  Luis 
Obiapo — having  been  brouglit  into  evidence  before  the  Army 
Court  Martial  now  in  session  in  this  city,  and  great  desire  being 
expressed  by  some  friends  to  know  how  the  ride  was  made,  I 
lierewith  send  you  tlie  particulars,  that  you  may  publisii  them 
if  you  please,  in  the  National  IritelUr/encer  as  an  incident  con- 
nected with  th  times  and  affairs  under  review  in  the  trial,  of 
winch  you  give  so  full  a  report.  The  circumstances  were  first 
got  from  Jacob,  afterwards  revised  by  Col.  Fremont,  and  I  drew 
them  up  from  his  statement. 

"  The  publication  will  show,  besides  the  horsemanship  of  the 
riders,  the  power  of  tlie  Califonda  horse,  especially  as  one  of  the 
horses  was  subjected,  in  the  course  of  the  ride,  to  an  extraor- 
dinary trial  in  order  exhibit  the  capacity  of  his  race.  Of  course 
this  statement  will  make  no  allusion  to  the  objects  of  the 
journey,  but  be  confined  strictly  to  its  performance. 

"  It  was  at  daybreak  on  the  morning  of  tlie  22d  of  March, 
that  the  party  set  out  from  La  Cuidad  de  los  Angeles  (the  city 
of  the  Angels)  in  the  southern  part  of  Upper  California,  to  pro- 
ceed, in  the  shortest  time,  to  Monterey  on  the  Pacific  coast, 
distant  full  four  hundred  miles.  The  way  is  over  a  mountainous 
country,  much  of  it  uninliabited,  with  no  other  road  than  a 
trace,  and  many  defiles  to  pass,  particularly  the  maritime  defile 
of  el  Rincon  or  Punto  Gordo,  fifteen  miles  in  extent,  made  by 
the  jutting  of  a  precipitous  mountain  into  the  sea,  and  which 
can  only  be  passed  when  the  tide  is  out  and  the  sea  calm,  and 
then  in  many  places  through  the  waves.  The  towns  of  Santa 
Barbara  and  San  Luis  Obispo,  and  occasional  ranches,  are  the 
principal  inhabited  places  on  the  route.  Each  of  the  party  had 
three  horses,  nine  in  all,  to  take  their  turns  under  the  saddle. 
The  six  loose  horses  ran  ahead,  without  bridle  or  halter,  and 
required  some  attention  to  keep  to  the  track.  When  wanted 
for  a  change,  say  at  the  distance  of  twenty  miles,  they  were 
caught  by  the  lasso,  thrown  either  by  Don  Jesus  or  the  servant 
Jacob,  who,  though  born  in  Washington,  in  his  long  expeditions 


T^' 


I 


u 


W' 


154 


LIFE   AND   SERVICES   OF   JOHN   C.    FKEMONT. 


with  Col.  Fremont,  had  become  as  expert  as  a  Mexican  with  the 
lasso,  as  sure  as  tlie  mountaineer  with  the  rifle,  equal  to  either 
on  horse  or  foot,  anil  always  a  lad  of  courage  and  fidelity. 

"  None  of  the  horses  were  shod,  that  being  a  practice  unknown 
to  the  Californians.  The  most  usual  gait  was  a  sweeping  gallop. 
The  first  day  they  ran  one  hundred  and  twenty -five  miles,  pass- 
injr  the  San  Fernando  mountain,  the  defile  of  the  Rincon,  several 
other  mountains,  and  slept  at  the  hospitable  ranche  of  Don  Tho- 
mas Robberis,  beyond  the  town  of  Santa  Barbara.  The  only 
fatigue  complained  of  in  this  day's  ride  was  in  Jacob's  right  arm, 
made  tired  by  throwing  the  lasso,  and  using  it  as  a  whip  to  keep 
the  loose  horses  to  the  track. 

"The  next  day  they  made  another  one  hundred  and  twenty- 
five  miles,  passing  the  formidable  mountain  of  Santa  Barbara, 
and  counting  upon  it  the  skeletons  of  some  fifty  horses,  part  of 
near  double  that  number  which  perished  in  the  crossing  of  that 
terrible  mountain  by  the  California  battalion,  on  Christmas  day, 
1846,  amidst  a  raging  tempest,  and  a  deluge  of  rain  and  cold 
more  killing  than  that  of  the  Sierra  Nevada — the  day  of  severest 
suffering,  say  Fremont  and  his  men,  that  they  have  ever  passed. 
At  sunset,  the  party  stopped  to  sup  with  the  friendly  Captain 
Dana,  and  at  nine  at  night  San  Luis  Obispo  was  reached,  the 
home  of  Don  Jesus,  and  where  an  affecting  reception  awaited 
Lieutenant-Colonel  Fremont,  in  consequence  of  an  incident 
which  occurred  there  that  history  will  one  day  record ;  and  he 
was  detained  till  10  o'clock  in  the  morning  receiving  the  visits 
of  the  inhabitants  (mothers  and  children  included),  taking  a 
breakfast  of  honor,  and  waiting  for  a  relief  of  fresh  horses  to  be 
brought  in  from  the  surrounding  country.  Here  the  nine  horses 
from  los  Angeles  were  left,  and  eight  others  taken  in  their  place, 
and  a  Spanish  boy  added  to  the  party  to  assist  in  managing  the 
loose  horses. 

"Proceeding  at  the  usual  gait  till  eight  at  night,  and  having 
made  some  seventy  miles,  Don  Jesus,  who  had  spent  the  night 
before  with  his  family  and  friends,  and  probably  with  but  little 


I 


\ 


EXTRA.OEDINAKT    RIDE. 


155 


sleep,  became  fatigued,  and  proposed  a  halt  for  a  few  hours.  It 
was  in  the  valley  of  the  Salinas  (salt  river  called  Buena  Ventura 
in  the  old  maps),  and  the  haunt  of  marauding  Indians.  For 
safety  during  their  repose,  the  party  turned  off  the  trace,  issued 
through  a  canon  into  a  thick  wood,  and  laid  down,  the  horses 
being  put  to  grass  at  a  short  distance,  with  the  Spanish  boy  in 
the  saddle  to  watch.  Sleep,  when  commenced,  was  too  sweet  to 
be  easily  given  up,  and  it  was  half  way  between  midnight  and 
day,  when  the  sleepers  were  aroused  by  an  estampedo  among 
the  l.orses,  and  the  calls  of  the  boy.  Tiie  cause  of  the  alarm 
was  soon  found,  not  Indians,  but  white  bears — this  valley  being 
their  great  resort,  and  the  place  where  Colonel  Fremont  and 
thirty-five  of  his  men  encountered  some  hundred  of  them  the 
summer  before,  killing  thirty  upon  the  ground. 

"  The  character  of  these  bears  is  well  known,  and  the  bravest 
hunters  do  not  like  to  meet  them  without  the  advantage  of  num- 
bers. On  discovering  the  enemy,  Colonel  Fremont  felt  for  his 
pistols,  but  Don  Jesus  desired  him  to  lie  still,  saying  that '  people 
could  scare  bears;'  and  immediately  hallooed  at  them  in  Spanish, 
and  they  went  cff.  Sleep  went  oft'  also ;  and  the  recovery  of  the 
horses  frightened  by  the  bears,  building  a  rousing  fire,  making  a 
breakfast  from  the  hospitable  supplies  of  San  Luis  Obispo,  occu- 
pied the  party  till  dny-break,  when  the  journey  was  resumed. 
Eiohty  miles,  and  th'^»  ifteinoon  brought  the  party  to  Monterey. 

"  The  next  day,  i**  the  afternoon,  the  party  set  out  on  their 
return,  and  the  two  I^rses  rode  by  Col.  Fremont  from  San  Luis 
Obispo,  being  a  preser'  to  him  from  Don  Jesus,  he  (Don  Jesus) 
desired  to  make  an  exj-  mment  of  what  one  of  them  could  do. 
They  were  brothers,  on  a  grass  younger  than  the  other,  both  of 
the  same  color  (cinnan?  m),  and  hence  called  el  canalo,  or  los 
canalos,  (the  cinnamon  s)i-  the  cinnamons.)  The  elder  was 
to  be  taken  for  the  ^rial;  and  the  journey  comr.i'^nced 
upon  him  at  leaving  M^/lerey,  the  afternoon  well  advanced. 
Thirty  miles  under  the  saddle  done  that  evening,  and  the 
party   stopped   ff  *•   t'-ie   night.       In    the    morning   the    elder 


m 


I 


I 


Hi 


ir>c 


LIFT';    AND    SKKVICKS    OF   JOHN    C.    FKEMONT. 


i  1 


H 

f  I 

I 

i 

1 


cafialo  was  again  under  the  saddle  for  Col.  Fremont,  and  for 
ninety  miles  he  carried  bim  without  a  change,  and  without 
apparent  fatigue.  It  was  still  thirty  miles  to  San  Luis  Obispo, 
where  the  night  was  to  be  passed,  and  Don  Jesus  insisted  that 
cafialo  could  do  it,  and  so  said  the  horse  by  his  looks  and  action. 
But  Col.  Fremont  would  not  put  him  to  the  trial,  and,  shifting 
the  saddle  to  the  younger  brother,  the  elder  was  turned  loose  to 
run  the  remaining  thirty  miles  without  a  rider.  He  did  so,  imme- 
diately taking  the  lead  and  keeping  it  all  the  way,  and  entering 
San  Luis  in  a  sweeping  gallop,  nostrils  distended,  snuffing  the 
air,  and  neighing  with  exultation  at  his  return  to  his  nutive  pas- 
tures; his  younger  brother  all  the  time  at  the  head  of  the  horses 
under  the  saddle,  b'^aring  on  his  bit,  and  held  in  by  his  rider. 
The  whole  eight  horses  made  theii  one  hundred  and  twenty 
miles  each  that  day  (after  thirty  the  evening  before),  the  elder 
cinnamon  making  ninety  of  his  under  the  saddle  that  day, 
besides  thirty  under  the  saddle  the  evening  before;  nor  was 
there  the  least  doubt  that  he  would  have  done  the  whole 
distance  in  the  same  time  if  he  had  continued  under  the  sad- 
dle. 

"  After  a  hospitable  detention  of  another  half  a  day  at  San  Luis, 
Obispo,  the  party  set  out  for  Los  Angeles  on  the  same  nine  horses 
which  t'.ey  had  rode  from  that  place,  and  made  the  ride  back  in 
about  the  same  time  they  had  made  it  up,  namely,  at  the  rate 
of  125  miles  a  day. 

"  On  this  ride,  the  grass  on  the  road  was  the  food  for  the  horses. 
At  Monterey  they  had  barley ;  but  these  horses,  meaning  those 
trained  and  domesticated^  as  the  canalos  were,  eat  almost  any- 
thing of  vegetable  food,  or  even  drink,  that  their  master  uses, 
by  whom  they  are  petted  and  caressed,  and  rarely  sold.  Bread, 
fruit,  sugar,  coffee,  and  even  wine  (like  the  Persian  horses),  they 
take  from  the  hand  of  their  master,  and  obey  with  like  docility 
his  slightest  intimation.  A  tap  of  the  whip  on  the  saddle,  springs 
them  into  action  ;  the  check  of  a  thread  rein  (on  the  Spanish 
bit)  would  stop  them :  and  stopping  short  at  speed  they  do  not 


I 


EXTRAOKDINARY    KIDE. 


157 


jostle  the  rider  or  throw  him  forward.  They  leap  on  anything 
— man,  beast,  or  weapon,  on  which  their  master  directs  them. 
But  this  description,  so  far  as  coiiduct  and  behavior  are  con- 
cerned, of  course  only  applies  to  the  trained  and  domesticaied 
horse.* 

*  See  Appendix  D.     *'  The  ride  of  one  hundred." 


i; 


s 


158 


LIFE   AND   6EKVICES   OF   JOHN    C.    FREMONT. 


:  r. 


CHAPTER  yill. 


tn  'I 


!:  'i 


CONQUEST    OF    CALIFORNIA     COMPLETED JOINS    COMMODORE 

STOCKTON — DESCRIPTION    OF   HIS    PARTY   ON    ITS   ARRIVAL 

AT  MONTEREY ORGANIZES  THE  CALIFORNIA  BATl'ALION — 

IS  APPOINTED  MAJOR — ORIGIN  OF  THE  CONTROVERSY 
BP:TWEEN  COMMODORE  STOCKTON  AND  BRIGADIER  GKNERAL 
KEARNEY COMMODORE  STOCKTOn's  REPORT  OF  THE  CON- 
QUEST    OF      SOUTH      CALIFORNIA INSURRECTION     OF     THE 

WAH-LAH-WAIl-LAH    INDIANS    QUELLED CAPITULATION  OF 

COUENGA FREMONT   GOVERNOR   OF   CALIFORNIA. 

Ampler  details  of  some  of  the  events  wliicli  preceded 
the  capitulation  of  Coiienga  so  eloquently  grouped  by 
Col.  Benton,  are  necessary  to  a  perfect  ai>j)reciation  of 
the  military  and  administrative  ability  displayed  by 
Col.  Fremont  in  the  emancipation  of  California. 

Castro's  first  hostile  message  reached  him  in  the 
midst  of  his  scientific  employments  about  eight  leagues 
from  Monterey  on  the  3d  of  March,  1840.  By  the  1st 
of  July  he  had  scattered  the  combinations  of  Mexicans 
and  Indians  that  had  been  formed  against  him.  On  the 
4tli  of  July  he  was  elected  governor  of  California  by 
the  revolutionists,  and  on  the  10th  about  sunset,  he 
received  the  gratifying  intelligence,  that  encouraged 
by  his  success  in  the  interior,  Commodore  Sloat  had 
taken  Monterey,  and  that  the  American  flag  had  been 


CONQUKST   OF   CALIFORNIA   COMi'LETED. 


159 


flying  from  the  fort  since  the  Yth.  He  immcfliately  set 
out  for  the  commodore's  quarters,  with  his  troops  of 
160  mounted  riflemen,  in  order  to  secure  the  co-opera- 
tion of  the  only  branch  of  the  American  military  service 
in  force  in  that  quarter  of  the  globe.  He  reached 
Monterey  on  the  19th  of  July.  It  so  happened  that  the 
British  ship  of  war  Collingwood,  of  80  guns,  had  arrived 
about  a  week  after  the  capture.  Had  she  arrived  a 
week  sooner  it  is  generally  conceded  that  the  place 
could  not  have  been  taken  without  a  contest  with  her 
commander  Sir  George  Seymour,  the  people  of  the 
place  having  entered  into  arrangements  with  a  view  of 
transferring  rheir  allegiance  to  Great  Britain.  Among 
the  oflicers  of  the  Collingwood  who  happened  to  be  at 
Monterey  and  saw  Fremont  enter  the  place  with  his 
company,  was  Lieutenant  Frederick  Walpole,  of  the 
Collingwood,  who  has  given  his  impressions  of  the 
spectacle  in  a  very  readable  book  which  he  published 
on  his  return  to  England,  entitled  "Four  years  in  the 
Pacific,  in  her  Majesty's  Ship  '  Collingwood,'  from  1844 
to  1848." 

"During  our  stay  in  Monterey,"  says  Mr.  Walpole, 
" Captain  Fremont  and  liis  paity  arrived.  They  naturally 
excited  curiosity.  Here  were  true  trappers,  the  class 
that  produced  the  heroes  of  Fennimore  Cooper's  best 
works.  These  men  had  passed  years  in  the  wilds,  living 
upon  their  own  resources ;  they  were  a  curious  set.  A 
vast  cloud  of  dust  appeared  first,  and  thence  in  long  file 
emerged  this  wildest  wild  party.  Fremont  rode  ahead, 
a  spaie^  active-looking  man,  with  such  an  eye  !  He 
was  dressed  in  a  blouse  and  leggings,  and  wore  a  felt 
hat.  After  him  came  five  Delawai-e  Indians,  who  were 
his  body-guard,  and  have  been  with  him  through  all  his 


' 


!     k'^:] 


160 


LIFE   AND    8KRVICE9   OF   JOHN   0.    FRKMONT. 


wanderiiiofs  ;  tlicv  had  cliar;ro  of  two  Lafrijajire  horses. 
The  reyt,  many  of  them  hhickei*  than  tlie  Indians,  rode 
two  and  two,  the  rilie  held  by  one  liand  across  tliepom- 
nu'l  of  the  saddle.  Thirty-nine  of  tliem  are  liis  regular 
men,  the  rest  are  h>afers  picked  up  lately ;  his  original 
men  are  principally  backwoodsmen,  from  the  State  of 
Tennessee  and  the  banks  of  the  uj>per  waters  of  the 
Missouri.  He  has  one  or  two  with  him  who  tMijoy  a 
liigh  I'eputation  in  tlie  prairies.  Kit  Carson  is  as  well 
known  there  as  '  the  Duke  '  is  in  Europe.  The  dress 
of  these  men  was  principally  a  long  loose  coat  of  deer 
skin,  tied  with  thongs  in  front ;  trowsers  of  the  same,  of 
their  own  manufacture,  which,  when  wet  through,  they 
take  off,  scrape  well  inside  with  a  knife,  and  put  on  as 
soon  as  dry  ;  the  saddles  were  of  various  fashions,  though 
these  and  a  large  drove  of  horses,  and  a  brass  lield-gun, 
were  things  they  had  picked  up  about  California.  They 
are  allowed  no  liquor,  tea  and  sugar  only ;  this,  no 
doubt,  has  much  to  do  w^ith  their  good  conduct ;  and 
the  discipline,  too,  is  very  strict.  They  were  marched 
up  to  an  open  space  on  the  hills  near  the  town,  under 
some  large  fires,  and  there  took  up  their  quarters,  in 
messes  of  six  or  seven,  in  the  open  air.  The  Indians  lay 
beside  their  leader.  One  man,  a  doctor,  six  feet  six 
high,  was  an  odd-looking  fellow.  May  I  never  come 
under  his  hands  !" 

Contemporaneously  with  the  arrival  of  Fremont's 
party  at  Monterey,  Commodore  Stockton  entered  the 
harbor  in  command  of  the  Frigate  Congress.  Commo- 
dore Sloat,  then  in  command  of  the  Pacific  squadron, 
who  had  been  greatly  embarrassed  by  the  position 
he  found  himself  placed  in  by  the  capture  of  ]\ron- 
terey,  which  he  had  made  undm'  the  impression  thnt, 


CONQUEST   OF   CALIFORNIA   COMPLETED. 


IGl 


Fremont's  moveinents  in  the  north  liad  been  conducted 
under  orders  from  Washington,  deterniined,  after  some 
liesitation,  to  transfer  the  command  of  the  fleet  to  Com- 
modore Stockton,  and  return  t">  the  United  States. 

The  same  day  that  Commodore  Stockton  took  com- 
mand of  the  BC[uadron,  he  requested  Col.  Fremont  to 
organize,  and  take  tlie  command,  witli  tlie  rank  of 
major,  of  what  soon  became  famous  as  tlie  "  California 
battalion."  The  colonel  complied  with  the  commo- 
dore's request,  waiving  the  rights  which  he  might  have 
'  asserted  as  the  conqueror  and  liberator  of  the  country,  and 
at  once  entered  ct)rdially  into  the  plans  of  the  connnodore 
for  the  subjugation  of  South  California,  which  was  in  a 
state  of  insurrection.  As  the  most  urqjleasant  and 
momentous  personal  controversy  that  Col.  Fremont  has 
ever  been  engaged  in,  originated  in  his  acceptance  of 
this  command  from  Commodore  Stockton — and  as  the 
events  have  been  the  subject  of  a  protracted  judicial 
scrutiny,  we  shall  probably  discharge  our  duties  most 
acceptably  as  his  biographer,  by  relying  for  our  record 
of  the  events  out  of  which  the  controversy  origiiuited, 
and  which  are  spread  over  the  remainder  of  his  sojourn 
in  California  as  an  American  officer,  upon  official  docu- 
ments and  such  public  records  as  give  evT'uts  in  the 
most  compact  and  accessible  form.  With  this  view,  we 
submit  the  following  dispatch  from  Commodore  Stock- 
ton, which  was  written  in  1848,  and  gives  a  very 
detailed  account  of  his  movements  after  taking  com- 
mand of  the  Pacitic  fleet  in  July,  1846. 

In  perusing  this  dispatch,  the  reader  is  requested  to 
note  those  passages  in  which  the  commodore  discusses 
certain  difterences  between  himself  and  General  Kear- 
ney, in  regard  to  their  respective  powers — differences 


:i't-' 


1C2 


LlFli   AND   8KUVICE9   OF   JOUN   0.    FREMONT. 


which  resulted  in  Mr.  Fremont's  abandoning  the  army 
as  a  ]H()tt'ssi(»n,  the  iollowin*]^  year.  It  should  also  be 
borne  in  mind,  that  this  dis|)atch  is  in  some  sort  tlie 
commodore's  defence  of  iiimself,  inasmucli  as  he  was 
necessarily  implicated  in  the  guilt  of  issuing  any  orders 
which  it  was  unlawful  for  another  party  to  obey.* 


-  V 


REPORT    OF    COMMODOnE    STOCKTON    OF    HIS    OPERATIONS    ON    THE 

COAST    OF    TUB    PACIFIC.f 

•'  Washington,  D.  C,  February  18, 1848. 

"Sir:  On  my  return  from  California  in  November  last,  the 
circumstances  of  the  times  seemed  to  i)resent  reasons  for  delay- 
ing a  full  report  of  my  transactions  and  operations  on  the  coast 
of  the  Pacific. 

"The  authority  under  which  I  had  acted  was  questioned  or 
denied ;  the  validity  of  much  that  had  been  done  was  doubted, 
and  investigations  were  on  foot  in  which  the  propriety  of  my 
proceedings  might  be  brought  to  the  especial  notice  of  the 
Executive. 

"  After  a  full  consideration  of  the  circumstances,  to  which  it  is 
unnecessary  hare  further  to  allude,  it  appeared  to  me  decorous 
and  respectful,  to  withhold,  for  a  brief  period,  my  own  views  of 
the  quesiions  in  which  I  was  to  some  extent  implicated,  and  to 
leave  the  Executive  to  learn  the  details  of  those  transactions 


*In  a  communication  addresssed  to  the  court-martial  by  which  Col. 
Fremont  was  subsequently  tried  for  disobeying  orders  of  Gen.  Kearney 
in  conflict  with  orders  he  had  previously  received  with  a  commission, 
from  Commodore  Stoclvton,  the  commodore,  in  explaining  the  testimony 
which  he  had  given  before  the  court,  remarks:  "P'or  each  and  every 
of  the  acts  of  Lieut.  Col.  Fremont,  performed  under  my  authority  and 
in  obedience  to  my  orders,  I  cannot  but  feel  that  in  some  form  or  otlier  I 
am  responsible,  if  the  acts  were  iu  themselves  illegal  or  iu  the  executioa 
of  them,  criminal." 

f  From  Executive  Document  No.  1,  accompanying  the  President's 
message  at  the  2nd  Session  of  the  Thirtieth  Congress,  December,  1848. 


] 


CONQUEST   OF  CALIFORNIA   COMPLETED. 


163 


from  other  quarters.     The  period,  however,  has  now  arrived  in 
wijjch  I  feel  that  I  can,  without  the  imputation  of  improper 
fooiinj^s  or  motives,  lay  before  the  Executive,  in  a  tanyjible  and 
ollicial  form,  a  narrative  of  the  occurrences  which  I  dire(!ted  in 
California;  explain  the  circumstances  wihch  induced  tlie  course 
which  I  pursued,  the  motives  by  wliich  I  was  guided,  the  objects 
which  I  designed  to  accomplish,  and  thus  to  put  the  President 
in  possession  of  ample  means  to  form  a  judgment  upon  my  con- 
duct.    It  appears  now  to  be  no  longer  questioned  that  I  actually 
possessed  and  exen^ised  the  power  of  governor  of  California  and 
commander-in-cliief  of  the  forces  of  the  United  States  in  that 
quarter,  and  that,  whether  rightfully  or  wrongfully,  I  executed 
the  duties  and  administered  tlie  functions  appertaining  to  these 
high  offices,  for  the  administration  of  which  I  am  alone  responsi- 
ble.    The  dispatches  which  were  from  time  to  time  addressed  to 
the  Department  were  designed  to  furnish  the  government  with 
accurate  information  of  what  transpired;  but,  under  the  circum- 
stances in  which  they  were  prepared,  it  did  not  enter  into  my 
purpose  to  give  a  general   narrative  of  the  entire  operations. 
Opening  a  full  view  of  the  circumstances  which  influenced  my 
judgment  in  selecting  the  course  which  was  adopted,  and  the 
policy  by  which  that  course  was  determined,  with  your  permis- 
sion I  beg  leave,  at  this  time,  to  perform  this  duty ;  the  obliga- 
tions to  do  which,  at  this  juncture,  seem  to  me  more  imperative, 
since  it  appears  that  in  an  official  communication  addressed  to 
the  Department  by  my  successor  in  command,  I  am  in  the  most 
explicit  terms  censured  for  premature  as  well   as  injudicious 
action.     With  what  of  propriety  or  of  professional  courtesy  this 
condemnation  has  been  passed  by  an  officer  of  equal  rank  with 
myself,  without  any  report  or  communication  to  him  of  what 
had  0(!curred,  or  the  reasons  by  which  I  was  governed,  is  not  so 
apparent.      Under   the   instructions   from    the    Department,    I 
arrived,  in  command  of  the  United  States  Frigate  Congress,  at 
the  harbor  of  Monterey,  about  the  middle  of  July,  1846.     The 
American  flag  was  there  flying.     I  immediately  went  on  board 


I 


41 


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i 


ICi 


LIFE   AND   SERVICES   OF  JOHN   C.    FliEMONT. 


tlie  United  States  frigate  Sav..nnah,  then  lying  off  that  town 
and,  in  conformity  with  my  orders,  I  reported  myself  to  Com- 
modore Sloat  as  foi'ining  part  of  the  Scpiadron  then  nnder  his 
command.  From  him  I  learned  that  in  the  preceiiing  month  of 
June,  while  l\'in<]f  oft'  Mazatlan,  lie  had  rec-eived  intellii>'(>n(e  that 
war  had  commenced  between  the  United  States  and  M^\ico;■ 
that  he  had  forthwith  proceeded  to  Monterey,  landed  a  force, 
and  hoisted  the  flag  of  the  United  States  without  resistance.  In 
the  couise  of  our  interview,  Commodore  Sloat  apprised  me  of 
his  intention  to  return  in  a  short  time  to  the  United  States, 
whereby  the  comtnand  of  the  squadron  would  devolve  upon  jne. 
In  this  position  it  b  'came  my  duty  to  examine  into  the  state  of 
affairs,  and,  in  view  of  the  responsibility  which  was  about  to 
rest  upon  me,  to  obtain  all  the  information  which  would  enable 
nie  to  exercise  a  proper  judgment  as  to  the  ulterior  measures  to 
be  pursued.  The  re.uilt  of  my  inquiries  and  investigations 
showed  me  that  the  position  I  was  about  to  occupy  was  an 
important  and  critical  one.  The  intelligence  of  the  commence- 
ment of  hostilities  between  the  two  nations,  although  it  had 
passed  through  Mexico,  had  reached  Conmiodore  Sloat  in  advance 
of  the  Mexican  authorities.  When  he  made  his  first  hostile  demon- 
strations, therefore,  the  enemy,  ignorant  of  the  existence  of  the 
war,  h.ui  regarded  his  acts  as  an  unwarrantable  exercise  of  power 
by  the  U;  ted  States,  and  the  most  lively  indignation  and  bitter 
resentment  pervaded  the  country. 

"The  public  functionaries  of  the  territory  were  not  slow  in 
availino-  themselves  of  this  feelings  and  endeavored  to  stimulate 
it  to  the  highest  possible  degree.  A  proclamation  was  put  forth, 
denouncing  in  the  most  unmeasured  terms  all  foreigners;  but  it 
was  unquestionably  aimed  pnncii)ally  at  t!ie  citizens  of  the  United 
States,  and  such  others  as  sympathized  with  them.  Two  or 
thi-ee  were,  in  fact,  nmrdered,  and  all  were  led  to  appreliend 
extermination  from  the  sano-uinarv  feeling  of  resentment  which 
was  everywhere  breathed. 

"  The  local  lea-islature  was  in  session.     Governor  Pio  Pico  had 


CONQUEST   OF   CALIFORNIA    COMPI-ETED. 


1G5 


assembled  a  force  of  about  seven  hundred  or  one  thousand  men, 
supplied  with,  seven  pieces  of  artillery,  breathinLj  venireance 
against  the  perpetrators  of  the  insult  and  injury  which  thtn'  sup- 
posed to  have  been  inflicted.  Tliese  hostile  demonstrations  were 
daily  increasing,  arid  by  the  time  that  the  command  devolved 
on  me  by  the  departure  of  Commodore  Sloat,  the  situation  of 
things  had  assumed  a  critical  and  alarming  appoarance.  P^very 
citizen  atid  friend  of  the  United  States  tluoughout  the  territory 
vus  iu  imminent  jeopardy ;  he  coidd  count  u|x>n  no  security  for 
either  property  or  life.  It  was  well  known  that  nutnerous  emi- 
grants from  the  United  States  were  on  their  way  to  Upper  Cali- 
fornia, These,  marching  in  small  and  detached  parties,  encum- 
bered with  their  wives  and  children  and  baggage,  uninformed 
of  the  war  and  conse(]uently  unprepared  for  attack,  would  have 
been  exposed  to  (pertain  destruction. 

"  It  was  also  aseeitained  that,  in  the  anticipation  of  the  event- 
ful conqu«^st  of  tlie  counti'v  by  the  United  States,  many  of  those 
in  tlie  actual  })0!^sovssion  of  authority  were  prepai'ing  for  this 
change  by  disposing  of  the  public  property,  so  that  it  miglit  be 
found  in  pi'iviite  hands  Avhen  the  Americans  should  acquire  pos- 
session, believing  that  private  rights  -would  be  protected  and 
ijidividual  projwrty  secure.  Negotiations  were  in  actual  progi-ess 
thus  to  acquire  tlnee  tliousand  leagues  of  land,  and  to  dispose  of 
all  the  most  valuable  portions  of  the  territory  appertaining  to 
the  missions  at  nominal  prices,  so  that  the  conquerors  should 
find  the  entire  country  appi'opriated  to  individunls,  and  in  hands 
which  could  effectually  prevent  sales  to  American  citizens,  and 
thus  check  the  tide  of  emigration,  while  little  or  no  benefit 
would  result  to  the  nation  from  the  acquisition  of  this  valuable 
territorv. 

"All  these  considerations,  together  witli  others  of  inferior 
moment,  seemed  to  make  prompt  and  decisive  action  an  impeia- 
tive  dut3%  To  I'etain  possession  merely  of  a  few  seaports,  wdiile 
cut  off  from  all  intercourse  with  the  interior,  exposed  to  constant 
attack  by  the  concentrated   forces  of  an   exasperated   enemy, 


•It 
I 


I 


166 


LIFE   AND   SERVICES   OF   JOHN    C.    FREMONT. 


■     I 


jipi>oared  wliolly  useless.  Yet  to  abantlon  ground  which  we 
1  «i.l  occupied,  to  withdraw  our  forces  from  these  points,  to  yield 
places  where  our  flag  had  been  floating  in  triumph,  was  an 
alternative  not  to  be  thought  of,  except  as  a  last  resource.  Not 
only  would  all  the  advantages  which  had  been  obtained  be  thus 
abandoned,  and  perhaps  never  be  regained  without  great  expen- 
diture of  blood  and  treasure,  but  the  pride  and  confidence  of  the 
enemy  would  be  increased  to  a  dangerous  extent  by  such  indica- 
tions of  our  weakness  and  inability  to  maintain  what  we  had 
won. 

"  Previous  to  the  departure  of  Commodore  Sloat,  he  had, 
at  my  instance,  and  upon  my  representations,  placed  at  my 
disposal  the  United  States  slonp-of-war  Cyane,  as  well  as  the 
forces  on  shore.  I  immediately  apprised  Captain  Fremont,  then 
of  the  topographical  corps,  with  whom  I  had  previous  communi- 
cations, of  the  position  in  which  I  was  placed,  and  that  I  had 
determined  upon  my  plan  of  ojierations. 

*'  Captain  Fremont  and  Lieutenant  Gillespie,  of  the  marine 
corps,  had  already  raised  a  body  of  160  volunteers,  prepared  to 
act  according  to  circumstances.  I  informed  those  gentlemen 
that  if  they,  together  with  the  men  whom  they  had  raised,  wo'dd 
volunteer  to  serve  under  my  command  so  long  as  I  should  remain 
in  California  and  require  their  services,  that  1  would  form  them 
into  a  battalion,  appointing  the  former  major  and  the  latter  cap- 
tain. These  arrangements  were  all  completed  in  the  course  of 
the  23d  of  July,  and  my  letters  of  that  date  to  Commodore  Sloat, 
to  Commander  Du  Pont,  and  Captain  Fremont,  on  the  file  in 
the  Department,  will  have  apprised  you  of  my  movements. 

"It  was  thus  tliat  the  battalion  of  California  volunteers  was 
organized,  which  subsequently,  under  its  gallant  officers,  took  so 
patriotic  and  efficient  a  part  in  the  military  operations  in  that 
territory.  It  was  received  into  the  service  of  the  United  States 
to  aid  the  navy,  as  essential  as  well  to  the  maintenance  of  the 
position  we  then  occupied  as  to  execute  the  plans  which  I  had 
contemplated  in  the  interior. 


!    : 


CONQUEST   OF   CATJFORNTA    COMPLETED. 


16T 


"A  few  days  subsequently,  Commodore  Sloat  sailed  in  the 
Levant,  thus  devolving  upon  me  the  command  of  the  entire 
force,  both  afloat  and  on  shore.  That  force  then  consisted  of 
the  frigates  Congress  and  Savannah,  sloops-of-war  Portsmouth, 
Cyane,  and  Warren,  and  the  store-ship  Erie.  The  Portsmouth 
was  at  San  Francisco,  the  Congress  and  Savannah  at  Monterey, 
the  Cyane  had  been  sent  with  the  California  battalion  to  San 
Diego,  the  Warren  was  at  Mazatlan,  and  the  Erie  at  the  Sand- 
wich Islands.  The  force  to  be  employed  on  land  consisted  of 
3G0  mon,  furnished  from  the  Congress,  provided  with  about  90 
muskets  and  bayonets,  fsome  small  cannon  procured  from  the 
merchant-vessels,  and  the  battalion  of  volunteers,  all  indifterently 
provided  with  the  appendages  of  an  army. 

"  Leaving  the  Savannah  at  Monterey,  for  its  protection,  I 
sailed  about  the  first  of  August,  in  the  Congress,  for  San  Pedro. 
This  town  is  situated  about  28  miles  from  Ciudad  de  los  Angeles, 
in  the  vicinity  of  which  the  enemy  was  stated  to  be.  On  the 
way  to  San  Pedro,  we  landed  at  Santa  Barbarri,  of  which  we 
took  possession,  and,  leaving  a  small  force  for  its  defence,  pro- 
ceeded to  San  Pedro,  where  we  nrrived  on  the  6th  of  x\.ugust« 
Here  information  was  received  of  the  arrival  of  the  Cyane  at 
San  Diego,  of  the  landing  of  the  battalion,  and  supply  of  horses. 
We  immediately  commenced  the  landing  of  our  forces  from  the 
frigate.  On  the  following  day  two  persons  arrived  representing 
themselves  to  be  commissioners  sent  from  General  Castro, 
authorized  to  enter  into  negotiations  with  me,  and  bearing  a 
letter  from  the  general,  which  is  already  in  possession  of  the 
Department.  Before,  liowever,  they  would  communicate  the 
extent  of  their  power  or  the  nature  of  their  instructions,  they 
made  a  preliminary  demand  that  the  further  march  of  the  troops 
must  be  arrested,  and  that  I  must  not  advance  beyond  the  posi- 
tion which  I  then  occuj)ied.  This  proposition  was  peremptorily 
declined.  I  announced  my  determination  to  advance;  and  the 
commissioners  returned  to  their  camp  without  imparting  further 
the  objects  of  the  proposed  negotiations. 

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ICS 


LIFE    AND    SERVICES   OF   JOHN    C.    FREMONT. 


Having  completed  all  the  armngeinents  which  time  and  cir- 
cumstances permitted,  and  dispatched  a  courier  to  Major 
Fiemont,  apj>rising  him  of  my  movements,  we  commenced  our 
march  towards  the  camp  of  the  enemy  on  the  11th  of  August. 
In  the  course  of  the  afternoon  of  that  day  information  reached 
us  that  tlie  enemy's  force,  instead  of  awaiting  our  aj>proach,  had 
dispersed  ;  that  they  had  buried  their  guns,  and  cliat  the 
governor  and  general  had  retreated,  as  was  supposed,  towards 
Sonora.  .  We  continued  our  march  towards  Ciudad  de  los 
Angeles,  and  on  ^he  13th,  having  been  joined  by  Major  Fremont 
with  about  120  volunteers  under  his  command,  we  marched 
into  the  city,  which  we  quietly  occupied. 

"  After  the  dispersenient  of  the  army  of  tlie  enemy,  the  flight 
of  tlie  general  and  goveinor-in-chief  out  of  the  territory,  a 
number  of  the  officers  of  the  Mexican  army  were  captured  and 
made  prisoners  of  war.  Among  these  were  Jose  Maria  Flores, 
whose  name  hereafter  will  appear  prominently,  and  Don  Andres 
Pico,  brother  of  Govi^rnor  Pio  Pico.  These  officers  were  released 
upon  their  parole  of  honor  not  to  bear  arms  against  the  United 
States  pending  the  war,  unless  exchanged  ;  with  what  of  fidelity 
they  performed  this  obligation  will  appear  in  the  sequel.  The 
people  in  general  came  in,  tendered  their  submission  to  our 
authority,  and  promised  allegiance  to  our  government.  Every 
indication  of  a  hostile  force  had  now  disappeared  from  the 
country,  tranquillity  was  restored,  and  I  forthwith  determined  to 
organize  a  temporary  civil  government  to  conduct  public  afiairs 
and  to  administer  justice  as  in  time  of  peace.  Various  coa- 
siderations  prompted  to  this  course.  It  ap{)eared  to  me  that  the 
existence  of  such  a  novernment,  under  the  authority  of  the 
United  States,  would  leave  no  pretence  upon  which  it  might  be 
urged  that  the  conquest  of  the  country  had  not  been  accon)- 
plished.  While  merely  the  military  power  exercised  power, 
enforcing  its  authority  by  martial  law,  and  executing  its  func- 
tions thi'ough  the  instrumentality  of  a  regular  military  force, 
nothing  could    be   regarded    as   settled,  and  opposition  to  ita 


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L  I. 


CONQUEST   OF   CALIFORNIA   COMPLETED. 


169 


power  would  be  considered  as  a  lawful  opposition  lo  a  foreign 
eiieinv.  When,  however,  tlie  whole  frame  of  civil  administra- 
tion  should  be  organized — courts  and  judges  performing  their 
accustomed  functions — public  taxes  and  imposts  regularly  col- 
lected and  appropriated  to  the  ordinary  objects  and  purposes  of 
government — any  opposition  might  be  justly  deemed  a  civil 
offence,  and  the  appropriate  punishment  inflicted  in  the  ordinary 
course  of  administering  justice. 

"Indeed,  the  law  military  appeared  to  me  wliolly  inadequate 
to  the  emergency.  It  could  not  reach  many  of  the  objects  over 
which  a  salutary  control  ought  to  be  exercised.  It  could  not 
effectively  administer  the  property  or  sufficiently  guard  private 
rights.  A  civil  government  which  should,  through  its  various 
functionaries,  pervade  the  entii'e  country,  exercise  a  superin- 
tendence over  all  the  inhabitants,  discover,  restrain,  and  punish, 
all  acts  of  insubordination,  detect  and  check  all  attempts  at  a 
hostile  organization,  recognize  and  sanction  the  possession,  use, 
and  transfer  of  property,  infhct  upon  criminals  the  appropriate 
punishment,  and  remedy  injuries  inflicted  upon  individuals, 
seemed  not  only  an  important  instrument  in  the  accomplishment 
of  the  objects  which  I  had  in  view,  but  essential  to  the  attain- 
ment of  tlie  ends  of  the  government.  It  appeared  to  me  desir- 
able that  the  actual  possession  and  exercise  of  power  should  be 
transferred,  with  the  least  possible  delay,  from  the  military  to 
civil  functionaries. 

"  Under  our  institutions  the  military  is  regarded  as  inferior 
to  the  civil  authority,  and  the  appropriate  duty  of  the  former  is 
to  act  as  auxiliary  to  the  latter.  Such  being  the  general  charac- 
ter of  our  institutions,  it  seemed  in  the  iirst  degree  desirable 
that  the  inhabitants  of  the  country  should,  as  soon  as  practicable 
become  familiar  with  them,  that  they  might  perceive  and  appre- 
ciate their  importance  and  their  value,  their  capacity  to  main- 
tain '-ight  and  redress  wrong,  and,  in  the  protection  atibrded  to 
persons  and  property,  to  recognize  a  guarantee  of  all  their  indi- 
vidual   rights.     The   marked  contrast  which    would    thus    be 

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170 


LIFE   AND   SEKVICE3   OF   JulIN    C.    FREMONT. 


;i  ') 


atrdi'dei]  to  their  former  institutions  and  rulers  would  roconuile 
ti'^  .>io.\i(;Mn  portion  of  tiu?  population  to  the  cliancft; ;  wliilo  tlie 
AnuM'ican  inliabitanis  would  grat(.'fully  witness  an  aduiinistni- 
tion  of  law  and  justice  analoi^ous  to  that  to  which  they  had 
l)(:(>n  ace-ustomc'd  at  homo.  Actuated  by  such  considerations,  I 
ii'.'fve  my  immediate  attention  to  the  establishment,  upon  a  per- 
manent basis,  of  a  civil  government  throughout  the  country,  as 
much  in  conformity  with  the  former  usages  of  the  (-ountry  as 
could  be  done  in  tlie  absence  of  any  written  code.  A  tarilF  of 
duties  was  fixed,  and  collectors  aj'pointed.  Elections  were 
directed  to  be  held  for  the  various  civil  magistrates;  ^Slajor 
Fremont  was  appointed  military  commandant  of  the  territory, 
and  Captain  Gillespie  militaiy  commandant  of  the  southern 
dejiartment.  'J'he  battalion  of  volunteers  was  ordered  to  be 
augmented  to  tlireo  hundred  ;  and,  contemplating  soon  to  leaf  o 
tlie  teri'itory,  I  deteru)ined  on  my  departure  to  appoint  Major 
Fremont  Governor  of  California.  He  was  appi'ised  of  these 
intended  arrangements,  and  instructed  to  meet  me  at  San  Fran- 
cisco on  tlie  25th  of  O(!tober,  for  the  purpose  of  consummating 
them.  These  acts  and  intentions  were  olficially  communicated 
to  the  Department  in  my  several  dispatches, 

"This  exposition  of  my  operations  and  acts  will,  I  trust,  prove 
satisfaotory  to  the  Executive,  and  be  a  sutTicient  reply  to  Com- 
modore Shubrick's  charge  of  premature  action.  In  a  state  of 
actual  war  against  a  foreign  enemy,  I  found  myself  at  the  head 
of  a  force  and  in  command  of  means  competent  to  take  and 
hold  possession  of  an  important  part  of  the  hostile  territory.  I 
found  that  before  the  command  had  devolved  upon  me  the  flag 
of  my  country  had  been  raised  in  some  parts  of  California. 
Important  interests  weie  involved  ;  to  stop  short  would  have 
led  to  their  absolute  sacrifice,  accompanied  by  great  individual 
loss  and  suftering.  No  middle  course  was  open  to  my  choice. 
The  alternative  was  the  subjection  of  the  entire  province  to  our 
authority,  or  its  total  abandonment.  In  such  a  position  I  could 
not  hasitate  as  to  the  line  of  duty.     Empowered   to  conduct  the 


I 


CONQtlKST   01"   CA.LIFOUNL\   COMl'LETKD. 


171 


^ 


WHY  afaiiist  Afcxico  ai;i''.or<liiU''  to  tlie  oxiijoncv  of  cirininisfance^i 
and  my  own  judgniont,  [  <letei'inin('(l  to  support  the  honor  of  my 
flar;  and  to  promote  what  I  regarded  as  the  best  interest  of  the 
nation.  Having  achieved  the  conquest  of  the  country,  and 
iinding  my  military  strength  ample  to  retain  it,  t!ie  establish- 
ment of  a  civil  government  naturally  and  necessarily  resulted. 
The  omission  to  do  this  would  have  marred  the  entire  j)laii 
and  stamped  a  character  of  imbecility  and  instability  U[)on  the 
whole  operation.  My  views  of  the  interests  of  my  country  were 
decisive;  as  to  the  expediency  of  my  measures,  the  estimate  I 
entertained  of  my  authority  impressed  upon  them  the  sanction 
of  duty.  The  arrangements  having  been  thus  completed,  I 
determined  to  leave  Calitornia  under  the  administration  of  the 
civil  authority,  and  witli  the  squadron  under  my  command, 
aided  by  a  volunteer  corps  raised  for  the  purpose,  to  sail  for  the 
southern  part  of  Mexico,  capture  Acapulco,  and,  having  secnired 
proper  positions  on  the  coast,  to  march  into  the  interior,  advamto 
towards  the  city  of  Mexico,  and  thus  to  co-operate  with  the 
anticipated  movements  of  General  Taylor,  or  produce  a  power- 
ful diversion  which  would  materially  aid  him  in  his  operations. 
My  dispatches  have  already  put  the  Department  in  possession 
of  these  plans. 

"About  the  2d  of  September  I  left  Ciudad  de  los  Angeles, 
embarked  on  board  the  Congress  on  the  3d,  and  on  the  5ih 
sailed  for  Santa  Barbara.  Having  taken  on  board  the  small 
detachment  which  had  been  landed  at  this  place,  we  proceedeil 
to  Monterey,  wdiere  everything  was  found  tranquil.  The  people 
appeared  to  be  quite  satisfied  with  the  state  of  atl'airs.  Informa- 
tion was  here  received  leading  to  the  appreh<?nsion  that  Sutter's 
settlement  on  the  Sacramento  was  threatened  with  an  attack  by 
a  body  of  one  thousand  Wah-lah-wahdah  Indians.  The  Savannah 
was  immediately  ordered  to  San  Francisco;  Lieutenant  Muddox, 
of  the  marine  corpse,  appointed  military  commandant  of  the 
middle  department,  and,  other  necessary  arrangements  h<*ving 
been  madn,  I  proceeded  in  the  Congress  to  San  Francisco,  which 


'!■ 


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^fi 


172 


LlFl-:    AND    8EUVICK8   OF   JOHN   C.    FREMONT. 


|1'   } 


K  i 


■V-  ■  '■ 


place  I  rcacliotl  in  <i  few  rlaya.  It  soon  .appeared  tliat  the  reports 
in  rcjifanJ  to  the  Wali-lah-wah-lah  Indians  liad  been  greatly  exag- 
gor;ii((d.  They  were  not  so  numerous  as  had  been  rej)resented, 
had  thev  any  liostile  intentions. 

AVc  deem  it  proper  to  interrupt  the  commodore's  nar- 
rative at  this  i)oint,  for  the  purpose  of  giviii<^  LFpliain''s 
fuller  and  more  authentic  account  of  this  Wali-hili-wah- 
lali  insurrection,  in  the  cpiieting  of  which  Col.  Fre- 
mont dis])layed  a  degree  of  judgment  and  discretion 
which  Commodore  Stockton  does  not  seem  to  have 
liad  the  means  of  appreciatin;^.     Mr.  LF2)ham  says  :  " 

"At  this  time  an  additional  panic  arose  from  the 
report  of  an  IndiaJi  invasion  from  the  north.  It  was 
said  that  one  thousand  Wah-lah-wah-lahs  were  advanc- 
ing to  attack  Sutter's  Fort.  The  whole  country  was 
aroused,  and  every  element  of  disposable  force  was 
drawn  out  to  meet  the  threatened  danger.  Fremont 
had  already  assembled  a  body  of  several  hundred  west- 
ern rillemen  towards  the  completion  of  his  California 
battalion,  when  the  news  reached  liim.  lie  was  quite 
conlident  that  the  story  was  exaggerated ;  but  it  was 
necessary  to  restore  security  in  the  northern  frontier. 
He  took  three  tried  men  with  him,  and  went  directly  to 
meet  the  Wah-lah-wah-lahs.  lie  found  them  much  less 
numerous  than  had  been  represented,  btit  assembled  in 
considerable  force,  and  in  a  state  of  the  greatest  exas- 
j)eration.  lie  went,  with  his  three  men,  directly  into 
their  midst.  One  of  them  knew  him,  and  all  gathered 
round  him  to  tell  their  wrongs.  They  had  been  robbed, 
and  one  of  their  best  young  men  killed  by  the  whites. 

He   promised    them   redress   if  they  would   follow   his 
advice,     lie  told  them  that  he  was  goinj;  to  the  south, 

•  Upliaiu's  Life  of  Krciiiont,  p.  242. 


s 

%  if 


CONQUEST   OF   CALnOUNIA   COMrLKTKD. 


173 


and  could  not  attend  to  them  until  the  spring,  but  that 
lie  would  then  meet  them,  at  a  place  agreed  ui)ou,  and 
have  justice  done  them,  lie  advised  them,  in  the  mean 
tiuie,  to  go  off  on  a  winter  hunt — said  that  he  would  let 
one  of  his  own  men  go  with  them,  to  hold  over  them  tho 
United  hitates  tlag,  and  that  whoever  struck  that  Hag 
struck  him.  They  were  perfectly  subdued  by  liis  talk,  and 
manner  of  treating  them:  at  once  gave  up  their  plan  of 
attacking  the  whites ;  and  agreed  to  go  oil'  on  a  winter 
hunt.  They  gave  him  ten  of  their  young  braves  to  go 
with  him,  who  proved  themselves  among  the  best  in  his 
battalion.  In  the  spring  of  the  year,  he  met  them, 
although  at  a  great  inconvenience,  and  gave  them  of  his 
own  horses  imtil  they  were  satisfied.  In  this  way  he 
not  only  stopped  an  Indian  war,  and  recruited  his  own 
ranks,  but  he  taught  a  lesson  which  it  would  be  well  to 
have  inculcated  upon  those  who  nndertake  to  grapple 
with  our  Indian  difficulties,  and  enforced  upon  the 
administration  of  that  department  of  our  government."' 
The  commodore  continues : 


less 
in 


About  the  30th  of  September,  a  courier  arrived  from  Captain 
Gillespie,  despatched  by  that  officer  to  convey  to  me  the  infor- 
mation that  an  insurrection  had  broken  out  at  Ciudad  do  los 
Angeles,  and  that  ho  was  besieged  in  the  government-house  at 
that  place  by  a  largo  force.  I  immediately  ordered  Capt.  Mer- 
vine  to  proceed  in  the  Savannah  to  San  Pedro,  for  the  purpose 
of  afibrding  aid  to  Captain  Gillespie.  Major  Fremont  was  at 
Sacramento  when  the  news  of  the  insurrection  reached  him,  and, 
havinii:  formed  the  determination  to  march  a^-ainst  the  insur2:ents 
with  the  force  he  could  muster,  amounting  to  about  one  hundreii 
and  twenty  men,  was  preparing  to  move.  I  sent  a  request  to  him 
forthwith  to  join  me  at  San  Francisco  with  his  command,  and  to 
bring  with  him  as  many  saddles  as  he  could  procure.     While 


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23  WEST  MAIN  STREET 

WEBSTER,  N.Y.  MS80 

(716)  872-4503 


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LIFE   AND   SERVICES   OF   JOHN    C.    I'REMONT. 


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awaitinnf  the  arrival  of  Major  Fremont  I  detached  ofTieers  in 
various  directions  for  the  purpose  of  procurinir  vohinteers  to  join 
the  battalion,  and  eni^aged  the  merchant-ship  Sterling  to  take 
tliem  down  to  Santa  Barbara. 

"About  tlie  12lh  of  October,  Major  Fremont  arrived  at  San 
Francisco,  and  immediately  embarke-i  on  board  the  Sterling, 
with  about  one  hundred  and  sixty  volunteers,  lie  was  directed 
to  proceed  to  Santa  Barbara,  there  to  procure  horses  to  n?arch 
to  Ciudad  de  los  Angeles,  while  I,  with  the  Congress,  was  to  sail 
to  San  Pedro,  and  by  that  route  advance  towards  the  same  point. 
'J'lie  insurgents  were  represented  to  be  encamped  in  the  neigh- 
borliood  of  that  city.  Tiie  Congress  and  Sterling  sailed  in  com- 
])any  iVom  San  Francisco,  but  separated  the  same  evening  in  a 
fog.  lietween  San  Francisco  and  Montei'ey  we  spoke  a  mer- 
chant-vessel from  the  latter  port,  with  dispatches  from  Lieutenant 
Maddorc,  apprising  me  that  Monterey  was  threatened  with  an 
attack,  and  that  he  was  in  want  of  immediate  assistance.  We 
ran  into  the  Bay  of  Monterey,  landed  two  officers  with  fifty  men 
and  some  ordnance.  Having  thus  strengthened  that  post,  I  pro- 
ceeded to  San  Pedro.  On  my  arrival  on  that  place,  about  the 
ii3d  of  October,  I  found  the  Savannah  frigate.  Captain  Mervine 
informed  me  that  Captain  Gillespie,  with  the  volunteers  under 
liis  command,  was  on  board  his  vessel,  having  left  Ciudad  de  los 
Angeles,  under  a  capitulation  entered  into  with  General  Flores, 
the  leader  of  the  insurrection — one  of  the  Mexican  officers  who, 
having  been  made  prisoner  of  war,  had  been  released  on  his 
parole. 

"  Captain  Mervine  further  informed  me  that,  about  two  weeks 
before,  he  had  landed  with  his  sailors  and  marines  for  the  pur- 
pose of  marching  in  conjuntion  with  Captain  Gillespie  and  his 
detachment  of  volunteers  to  Ciudad  de  los  Angeles.  He  had 
not  carried  any  artillery  with  him ;  that  about  twelve  miles  from 
San  Pedro  he  encountered  a  party  of  the  insurgents  with  one 
piece  of  artillery  ;  a  battle  ensued ;  that  several  charges  had  been 
Made  upon  tlie  insurgents'  gun,  but  it  was  impossible  to  capture 


CXDNQUIlST  of  CAI-IFOK'NIA   oompletkd. 


175 


I 


it,  a^,  wlionever  lie  approaMictl,  tlioy  liitclioJ  tlioir  liorsos  to  it 
aii<l  rotroatdi.  Ilavinq;  sustained  a  loss  of  several  men  killed 
and  wounded,  he  retired  with  his  Ibree  and  le-enibarked. 

"Proper  arran^^enients  liavin<^  been  made  durin<^  the  night,  in 
the  morning  we  landed  a  strong  force  with  several  pieces  of  ar- 
tillery, once  more  hoisted  the  tlag  of  the  Unite<l  States  at  San 
Pedro,  and  formed  our  camp  there.  The  insurgent  force  in  the 
viirinity  was  supposed  to  number  about  eight  hundred  men.  Our 
authority  was  necessarily  limited  to  the  portion  of  territory  in 
our  actual  possession  or  within  the  range  of  our  guns.  The  in- 
surgents, in  the  undisturbed  occu[)ancy  of  tlie  interior,  and 
wat(;hful  of  our  every  movement,  could,  at  their  pleasure, 
threaten  us  with  an  attack  by  night  or  day,  and  had  the  precau- 
tion to  remove  beyond  our  reach  every  hoise  and  all  the  cattle 
which  might  have  been  available  either  for  food  or  trans- 
portation. 

"The  roadstead  at  San  Pedro  wns  also  a  dangerous  position  for 
men-of-war,  being  exposed  to  the  storms  which  at  that  season  of 
the  year  rage  with  great  violence  upon  t!ie  coast. 

"  This  consideration  decided  me  to  proceed  to  San  Diego,  which, 
althoufi-h  the  entrance  was  obstructed  bv  a  bar  which  had  never 
been  passed  by  a  vessel  of  equal  draught  of  water  with  the 
Congress,  might,  I  hoped,  be  crossed  ;  and,  if  the  passage  should 
prove  practicable,  would  be  found  a  convenient  and  safe  harbor. 
AVe  did  not,  however,  leave  San  Pedro  until  I  had  been 
compelled  to  relin(|uish  all  expectation  of  the  co-operation  of 
Major  Fremont  from  whom  I  liad  not  heard  a  word  since  wo 
parted  off  San  Francisco,  nor  until  the  oflicers  and  men  had 
become  completely  exliausted  by  their  incessant  duties  on  shore, 
in  guarding  the  camp  from  attack  and  pursuing  small  parfies  of 
the  insurgents  who  approached  us.  Having  embarked  tlu  men 
belonging  to  the  squadron,  and  volunteers  under  Captain  (jiillcs- 
pie,  I  sailed  for  San  Diego  in  the  Congress. 

"On  my  arrival  off  the  harbor  of  San  Diego,  I  received  infor- 
mation from  Lieutenant  Minor  that  the  town  was  besieged  by 


176 


LIFE    AND   SERVICES   OF   JOHN   C.    rREM'>NT. 


»  : 


the  insurgents,  that  his  stock  of  provisions  was  small,  and  that 
he  was  in  the  want  of  an  additional  force.  He  gave  it  as  his 
opinion  that  ihe  Congress  might  be  got  over  the  bar.  In  alteinpt- 
ing  this,  however,  the  ship  struck,  and  her  position  was  so  dan- 
gcious  that  we  were  compelled  to  return  to  the  anchorage  out- 
side. 

"On  the  following  day  the  Malek  Adhei,  a  prize  to  the  United 
Slates  ship  Warren,  arrived  from  Monterey  with  dispatches  from 
Lieutenant-Colonel  Fremont.  I  thus  received  information  from 
that  officer  tliat  on  liis  way  to  Santa  Barbara  lie  met  the 
merchant-ship  Vandalia,  from  San  Pedro,  by  whom  he  was  in- 
formed of  the  state  of  afiairs  at  the  South ;  that  it  would  be 
impossible  for  liim  to  procure  horses  at  Santa  Barbara,  in  conse- 
quence of  which  he  had  proceeded  to  Monterey,  and  would 
employ  all  diligence  in  preparing  his  force  to  march  for  Ciudad 
de  los  Ano'eles. 

"  Lieutenant  Minor  was  directed  to  send  the  ship  Stonington, 
then  lying  in  the  harbor  of  San  Diego,  with  as  many  volunteers 
as  could  be  spared,  to  Ensanado,  about  ninety  miles  below  San 
l>iego,  for  the  purpose  of  procuring  animals,  which  he  was  in- 
structed to  have  driven  into  San  Diego.  AVithout  a  supply  of 
liorses  and  beeves,  it  was  not  prudent  to  commence  our  march. 
Captain  Mervine  was  dispatched  in  the  Savannah  to  Monterey, 
to  aid  Lieutenant-Colonel  Fremont  in  his  preparations  to  march, 
and,  having  myself  gone  to  San  Pedro,  returned  with  all  conve- 
nient speed  to  San  Diogo. 

•'  About  thirty  or  forty  miles  from  that  place,  our  progress  was 
arrested  by  a  calm.  My  anxiety  on  account  of  Lieutenant-Colo- 
nel Fremont,  and  my  desire  to  go  to  his  assistance  was  so  great, 
thaL  a  boat  was  immediately  dispatched  with  Lieutenant  Tilgh- 
man,  the  bearer  of  a  communication  addressed  to  Lieutenant 
George  Minor,  in  command  at  San  Diego,  apprising  that  officer 
that  on  my  arrival  I  would  be  ready  to  take  the  field  in  person, 
and  with  an  additional  force  of  two  h  mdred  and  fiftv  men  from 
the  ship,  to  take  up  the  line  of  march  for  Ciudad  do  los  Angeles. 


S 


I 


1 


CONQUEST   OF   CALTi'OKNIA   COMPLK'IKD 


177 


-lieutenant  Minor  was  directed  to  arrange  with  Lieutenant 
Tilghnian,  the  comnnanding  otlicer  of  iho  artillery,  and  Mr. 
Southwick,  commanding  officer  of  the  cngineorr*,  to  have  the 
liorses  necessary  for  the  transportation  of  the  guns  and  ammuni- 
tion. 

"Notwitlistanding  my  first  unsuccessful  attempt  to  get  into 
tlie  harbor  of  San  Diego,  it  was  an  object  of  too  great  impor- 
tance to  be  abandoned,  unless  from  the  absolute  impossibility  of 
efl'ecting  it.  The  bar  and  channel  were  again,  on  my  return* 
examined  and  buoyed,  and  a  second  attempt  made.  After  cross- 
ing the  bar,  the  sliip  grounded,  and  in  such  a  situation  that  it 
became  expedient  to  prepare  her  spars  to  shore  her  up,  to  pre- 
vent her  from  tumbling  over.  While  thus  occupied,  the  insur- 
gents commenced  an  attack  upon  the  town,  and,  notwithstanding 
the  perilous  condition  of  the  frigate,  and  the  necessity  of  employ- 
ing the  crew  in  extricating  her  from  her  position,  a  portion  of 
them  was  simultaneously  engaged  in  landing  from  the  ship,  in 
boats,  to  take  part  in  the  fight.  In  executing  my  orders  in 
reference  to  those  two  distinct  objects  at  the  same  time,  the  con- 
duct of  the  officers  and  men  under  my  command  was  such  as  to 
command  my  warmest  commendation.  Everything  was  per- 
formed with  the  regularity  and  order  of  the  ordinary  duties  of 
the  vessel.  Having  accomplished  a  landing  cf  the  men  from  the 
ship,  the  attack  of  the  insurgents  was  successfully  repelled  by 
the  combined  force  under  the  command  of  Lieutenant  Minor  and 
Captain  Gillespie. 

"The  situation  of  the  pLace  w  is  found  to  be  most  miserable 
and  deplorable.  The  male  inhabitants  had  abandoned  the  town, 
leaving  their  women  and  children  dejiendent  upon  us  for  protec- 
tion and  food.  No  horses  could  be  obtained  to  assist  in  tlie 
transportation  of  the  guns  and  ammunition,  and  not  a  beef 
could  be  had  to  supply  the  necessary  food;  some  supplies  of  pro- 
visions were  furnished  from  the  ship.  The  expedition  to  the 
southward  for  animals,  under  the  command  of  Ca])tain  Gibson, 

8* 


178 


LTFK    AND    SKUVICKS    OF   JOHN    0.    FREMONT. 


'lis. 


of  Uio  battalion,  liad  succocdcd  in  driving  about  ninety  horses, 
and  two  luindrod  head  of  beef-cattlo  into  the  garrison. 

"  The  liorsos  wore,  however,  iniich  worn  down,  and  it  was  sup- 
posed a  furtniglit's  rest  would  be  required  befoi'c  thoy  would  bo 
lit  for  service.  During  the  time  required  for  resting  the  iiorses, 
we  were  actively  employed  in  the  construction  of  a  fort,  for  the 
more  complete  protection  of  the  town,  mounting  guns,  and  in 
making  the  necessary  harness,  saddles,  and  bridles.  While  the 
work  of  preparation  necessary  for  our  march  to  meet  Ueutenant- 
(^olonel  Fremont  at  Ciudad  de  los  Angeles  was  thus  going  on, 
we  sent  an  Indian  to  ascertain  where  the  principal  force  of  the 
insurgents  was  encamped.  He  returned  with  information  tliat  a 
body  of  them,  about  fifty  strong,  was  encamped  at  San  Ber- 
nardo, about  thirty  mijf^s  from  San  Diego.  Captain  Gillespie 
was  immediately  ordered  to  have  as  many  men  as  he  could 
mount,  with  a  piece  of  artillery,  ready  to  march,  for  the  purpose 
of  sur])rising  the  insurgents  in  their  camp.  Another  expe  Mtion, 
under  tlie  command  of  Captain  Ilenslcy,  of  the  battalion,  was 
sent  to  the  southward  for  animals,  who,  after  performing  the 
most  arduous  service,  returned  with  five  hundred  head  of  cattle, 
and  one  hundred  and  forty  horses  and  mules.  About  the  3d  of 
December,  two  deserters  fi'om  the  insurgents,  whose  families 
lived  in  San  Diego,  came  into  the  place,  and  reported  themselves 
to  Lieutenant  Minor,  the  commander  of  the  troops.  On  receiv- 
ing infoimation  of  the  fact,  I  repaired  to  Lieutenant  Minor's 
quarters,  with  my  aid-de-camp.  Lieutenant  Gray,  for  the  purpose 
of  examinino-  one  of  these  men.  Wliile  enijaired  in  tl'.is  exami- 
nation,  a  messenger  arri\'ed  with  a  letter  from  General  Kearney, 
of  the  United  States  army,  apprising  me  of  his  approacli,  and 
expressing  a  wish  that  I  would  open  a  communication  with  him, 
and  infoini  him  of  the  state  of  atiairs  in  California. 

"  Captain  Gillespie  was  immediately  ordered  to  proceed  to 
General  Kearney's  camp,  with  the  force  wliich  he  had  been 
directed  to  have  in  readiness,  carrying  a  letter  which  I  wrote  to 


(.i 


•I 


I 


CONQUEST   OF   CALIFORNIA   COMrLETED. 


179 


(, 


■i 


General  Kearney.  Captain  Gillespie  left  San  Diego  at  about 
half-past  seven  o'clock  the  same  evening,  taking  with  him  one 
of  the  deserters  to  act  as  a  guide  in  conducting  General  Kearney 
to  the  camp  of  the  insurgents.  The  force  which  accompanied 
Capt-xin  Gillespie  consisted  of  a  company  of  volunteers,  composed 
of  Acting  Lieutenant  Beale,  Passed  Midshipman  Duncan,  ten 
carbineers  from  the  Congress,  Captain  Gibson,  and  twenty-five 
of  the  California  battalion.  Mr.  Stokes,  who  was  the  bearer  of 
the  letter  from  General  Kearney,  was  also  of  the  company.  In 
the  eveninfr  of  December  0th,  Mr.  Stokes  returned  to  San  Dieiro, 
to  inform  me  that  General  Kearney,  on  the  morning  of  that  day, 
had  attempted  to  surprise  the  insurgents,  under  the  command  of 
Captain  Andres  Pico,  in  their  camp  at  San  Pasqual ;  that  he 
had  been  worsted  in  the  action  whi('h  ensued,  but  to  what  extent 
he  was  unable  to  say,  as  he  had  left  the  field  before  the  battle 
was  concluded.  lie,  however,  was  under  the  impression  that 
General  Kearney  had  lost  a  number  of  men,  killed  and 
wounded. 

"  The  following  morning.  Lieutenant  Godey,  of  the  California 
battalion,  with  two  men,  came  into  San  Diego  with  a  letter  from 
Captain  Turner,  of  the  dragoons,  informing  me  that  General 
Kearney  had  had  a  fidit  with  a  considerable  bodv  of  the  Mexi- 
cans;  that  he  had  about  eighteen  killed,  and  fourteen  or  fifteen 
wounded ;  and  suggesting  the  propriety  of  dispatching,  without 
delay,  a  considerable  force  to  his  assistance.  Preparations  were 
immediately  made  to  dispatch  a  detachment  for  this  purpos*. 
Captain  Turner  had  not  mentioned  the  strength  on  either  side, 
and  Lieutenant  Godey  was  not  able  to  inform  me.  From  the 
information,  however,  I  deemed  it  advisable  to  proceed  in  per- 
son, with  all  the  force  that  could  be  spared  from  the  garrison,  to 
form  a  junct'on  with  him.  Two  days'  provisions  were  ordered 
to  be  prepared,  and  the  advance,  with  two  field-pieces,  under 
Acting  Lieutenant  Guest,  was  directed  to  march  forthwith  to  the 
mission  of  San  Diego,  where  it  was  my  intention  to  join  it  with 
the  rest  of  the  force  the  next  morning.     Before,  however,  the 


1 


J  80 


MFR    AND    tJEKVlCEH  OK   JOHN    C.    FREMONT. 


.irlv.im'c  had  moved,  an  Indian  caino  in  from  fioneral  Kearney. 
From   the  information  ho  gave,  I  jndijed  that  the  necessity  for 
ijnmediatc  assistance  was  mnch  rnorc  nri^cnt  than  had  heen  pre- 
viously supposed.     Anticii)atini;  great  dilliculty  and  delay  from 
the  want  of  animals  to  drag  the  artillery,  siiould  I  march  with 
my  entire  force,  and  believing,  from   the  representations   now 
made,  that  the  force  of  the  Californians  was  less  than  had  been 
supposed,  and   conseqnenlly,  that  .1  portion  of  my  command 
would  be  sufficient  for  the  purpose,  I  determined  not  to  move  in 
jierson,  but  to  send  on,  as  rapidly  as  possible,  an  effective  body 
of  men.     About  te :  o'clock  at  night,  A'^ting  Lieutenant  Beale, 
of  the  Congress,  arrived  from  Generjil  Kearney's  camp,  and  con- 
firmed the  worst  accounts  we  had  received,  and  the  importance 
of  prompt  assistance.      The  advanced  body,  increased  to  the 
number  of  215  men,  was  placed  under  the  command  of  Lieute- 
nant Cray,  my  aid-decamp,  with  orders  to  proceed  directly  to 
the  camp  of  General  Kearney.     The  order  was  successfully  per- 
formed, and  Lieutenant  Gray  having  accomplished  it,  returned 
to  San  Diogo,  accompanied  by  the  general.     On  their  arrival, 
General  Kearney,  his  officers  and  men,  wore  received  by  all  the 
garrison  in  the  kindest  and  most  respectful  manner.     So  far  as 
mv  observation  extended,  no  civility  or  attention  was  omitted. 
Having  sent  with  Gaptain  Gillespie  every  liorse  that  was  fit  for 
use  to  General  Kearney,  I  was  without  one  for  my  own  accommo- 
datic.i.      I  was  therefore  compelled,  on  foot,  to  advance  and 
receive  the  general,  whom  I  conducted  to  my  own   quarters, 
until  others  more  agreeable  to  him  could  be  prepared.     The 
arrival  of  General  Kearney  was  to  me  a  source  of  gratification, 
although  it  was  jny  decided  opinion — which  as  yet  I  have  seen 
no  reason  to  change — that,  under  the  circumstances  that  existed, 
I  was  entitled   to  retain  the  position  in  which  I  was  placed  of 
commander-in-chief;  yet,  in  consideration  of  liis  high  standing 
in  the  army,  his  long  axperience  as  a  soldier,  the  importance  of 
military  science   and  skill  in   the   movements  that  were  to  be 
made  in  the  interior  of  the  country,  I  immediately  determined 


.4 


/I 


ns 

ed. 

or 

10- 


ed 


CONQUEST  Ob'   CALIFOHNIA   COMl'LKTLD. 


181 


J 


to  yield  all  personal  feelings  of  ambition,  and  to  place  in  his 
hands  the  puj)i'eni(!  aniliorily.  In  accordance  with  this  determi- 
nation, I  tendered  to  (Jeneral  Kearney  the  position  of  comman- 
der-in-chief, and  olVered  to  accompany  him  as  his  aid. 

"This  j)roposition  was  o!\  more  than  one  occasion  renewed, 
and  with  all  sincerity  and  singleness  of  purpose.  The  responsi- 
bility of  moving  from  San  l>iego,  and  leaving  the  safety  of  the 
ships,  deprived  of  so  large  and  etHcient  a  portion  of  their  crews, 
was  of  itself  a  momentous  one.  This,  however,  in  the  discharge 
of  duty,  I  felt  no  inclination  to  shrink  from.  But  the  fate  of 
the  territory  itself  might  depend  upon  tlie  issue  of  a  battle  to 
be  fought  on  shore  against  an  army  organized  to  en(;ounter  us. 
The  nature  of  the  service  and  the  imj)ortance  of  the  stake,  it 
seemed  to  me,  appertained  rather  to  a  general  in  the  army  than 
a  captain  in  the  navy.  Whatever  ambition  I  might  feel  for  dis- 
tinction, either  on  my  account  or  on  that  of  the  gallant  officers 
and  men  under  my  command,  was  voluntarily  and  deliberately 
oftered  as  a  sacrifice  to  a  paramount  sense  of  duty.  The  offers 
thus  made  were,  however,  on  every  occasion  distinctly  and  pos- 
itively declined  by  Gejieral  Kearney,  wlio,  on  his  side,  otfored  to 
accompany  me  in  the  capacity  of  my  aid,  and  tendered  to  afford 
me  the  aid  of  his  liead  and  hand. 

"  A  day  or  two  after  his  arrival  at  San  Diego,  General  Kearney 
removed  from  my  quarters  to  others  which  at  his  instance  had 
been  provided  for  liis  accommodation.  Before  leaving,  however, 
he  handed  me  his  instructions  from  the  War  Department.  On 
reading  them,  I  came  to  the  conclusion  that  he  had  submitted 
them  to  my  perusal  to  afford  me  the  gratification  of  perceiving 
how  entirely  I  had  anticipated  the  views  of  the  government  in 
the  measures  which  I  liad  adopted.  In  return,  I  exhibited  some 
of  my  own  dispatches  to  the  Department.  Subsequently,  and 
before  leavinof  San  Diec'o,  General  Kearney  mentioned  the  sub- 
ject  of  his  instructions  from  the  War  Department,  and  seemed 
to  intimate  that  he  ought  of  right  to  be  the  governor  of  the 
territory.     His  language,  however,  though  perhaps  sufficiently 


u 


1.S2 


I.I1*K    AND    bMRVlCKfl    OF   JOHN    (\    FIIKMONT. 


:l 


o\|tlicil,  Nviis  not  very  intrllitciMo  to  iiic,  as  I  was  at  a  loss  <o 
it.'cuiicilc  llif  assoilion  orsiuli  a  claim  of  riy;lit  with  Iiis  rcpcitrj 
rrfiisal  to  accept  tli<>  ofi'cr,  wliicli  1  had  nioro  than  once  w.uUt  to 
him,  to  (|t'\»)lvc  njion  him  tho  supreme  c«>mman<l  in  the  terri- 
tory. Tlic  sui'ject,  however,  was  discussed  lu'tween  us  without 
any  interrnj)tion  ol'  that  liarmony  wliich  liad  commeiicod  on  our 
first  in 1 1' r view. 

''A  few  days  before  I  oxpcclod  to  take  up  iho  lino  of  march,  I 
addressed  a  nt)(o  to  the  i;onoral,  oxpressini;  a  wish  that  ho 
woidd  accompany  me.  In  his  reply  ho  repeated  tho  lani^naefo 
wliich  he  ha<l  heforc  employed — that  ho  ^vouId  so  accompany 
me,  ;iiid  all'oid  me  the  aid  of  his  head  and  liand.  Acconlin<i;Iy, 
on  the  morniiii;'  of  onr  departuro  ho  aj>peared  upon  tho  ground. 
After  tho  troops  Jiail  'loen  j)araded,  and  wero  nearly  ready  to 
coinmencc  tho  march,  as  I  was  about  to  mount  my  horse,  Gen- 
eral Kearney  api>roa<'liod  mo  and  iiupiirod  who  was  to  command 
tho  troops,  I  replied,  Lieutenant  Kowan  was  to  have  tho  com- 
mand.  On  ids  e.\pressin<;  a  wisli  that  lie  should  himself  com- 
mand them,  1  replied,  that  lie  .sliould  have  tho  command.  'J'ho 
<litl"erent  ollicers  were  at  once  convened,  and  informed  that  Gon- 
eial  Kearney  had  volunteered  to  command  the  troops,  and  that 
1  had  given  him  the  apjiointment,  reservini;-  my  own  jx)sition  as 
commander-in-chief.  This  arranirement  havinof  been  made,  we 
proceeded  on  tho  march. 


"On  the  mornino:  of  the  dav  we  marched  into  Ciudad  de  loa 
Angeles,  General  Kearney  came  to  me  with  Mr.  South  wick,  who 
was  actinof  as  engineer',  to  ascertain  from  mo  bv  what  rojvd  I 
intended  to  enter  tho  city,  lie  requested  Mr.  Southwick  to 
mark  on  the  sand  the  position  of  the  city,  and  the  ditlerent  loads 
leading  into  it.  I  selected  the  plainest  and  broadest  road,  lead- 
inc:  into  the  main  street  of  the  city  ;  and  when  we  marched  into 
the  city,  I  led  the  way  with  the  advance-guard.  My  position  as 
commander-in-chief  was  again  distinctly  recognized  in  a  letter 


rONQUrST    OF    CAUKOKNIA    CDMrLHTKl). 


183 


I* 

le  loa 

who 

Jvd   I 

Ik  to 

loads 

|o:ul- 

iulo 

ill  as 

itter 


of  Jatiiiarv  l-T,  ailiIr<->-^i'(l    to   iik;   bv   ^Jciicial   ICcarncv,  an  Gov- 
enior  of'  da/ij'di'niit,  roniiiKiiii/hnf  ('nitiil  Slofcs  /'nrrcs. 

A  ("W  «lavs  alMT  wv  had  taken  (/'iiidail  dt;  los  Ain't-lfs,  Lieut. 
CVdoiM'l  I''rt'Mi<iiit  arrived  wiili  his  part  of  the  hattalion. 

"  With  the  linn  convictitiiis  which  «'\i,stii|  u|m»ii  my  mind  as 
to  mv  ri'dits  and  authority  as  commandcr-in-chiet"  and  llio  ohli- 
pjations  which  all  olliccrs  and  mtMi  under  n»y  cnmmand  wore 
iindtT  to  oIk'v  implicitly  all  my  orders,  I  should  not  only  liavo 
ftdt  it  to  l)»'  my  rii^ht,  hut  a  mattor  of  im]>erativu  <luty,  to  assert 
and  maintain  my  authority,  if  necessary,  l»y  a  resort  to  force.  I 
cotitimied  this  exercise  of  tlie  jiower  of  cotnmaiider-in-chief 
without  its  iiavinix  Ix-eii  deided  or  (juestioiied  hy  atiy  |»erson,  as 
far  as  I  was  informed,  up  to  the  IGth  of  January,  when  1  received 
a  letter  of  that  date  from  (leneral  Kearney,  wdiicdi  is  now  on 
file  in  tiie  Department,  in  which  he  demands  that  I  will  ceaso 
all  further  proceedini^s  relating  to  the  formation  of  a  civil  gov- 
erninent  lor  tlie  territory.  In  my  reply  of  the  same  date  to  that 
letter  (which,  I  think,  is  also  on  iile  in  the  Department),  I  sus- 
pended (Jeneral  Kearney  from  his  volunteer  command  under 
me,  when  he  again  became  lirieadier-CJenoral  Kearney,  over 
whom  I  never  attempted  or  desired  to  have  any  command  or 
control. 

"  I  exercised  no  authority  in  the  territory  after  I  left  San 
Diego,  except  that  which  was  induced  by  the  leceipt  of  a  letter 
from  l.ieutenant-Colonel  Cook,  informing  me  that  lie  had 
received  information  tliat  a  French  schooner  had  been  landinix 
some  guns  on  the  Southern  coast,  and  that  General  Bustamento, 
with  1,500  Mexicans,  was  ap])roaching  tlie  territory.  I  wrote  to 
Lieutenant-Colonel  C3ok  that  I  would  go  in  search  of  them  as 
soon  as  ])ossible.  I  ^vent  down  the  coast  120  miles,  landed  and 
mounted  some  of  my  men,  and  went  in  pursuit.  It  tui'ued  out 
to  be  a  false  alarm.  After  jierlbrnnng  this  last  service  in  Cali- 
fornia, I  returned,  via  San  Diego  and  Monterey,  to  San  Fran- 
cisco, where  I  gave  up  the  comniaud  of  the  frigate  Congress, 


I  'i 


184 


L!FK    AND    8KRVICKS   OK   JOHN   0.    FRKMONT. 


and  rotiirnod  to  llie  Kiiilod  Stritos  bv  way  of  tlio  Uockv  Moun- 
tains. 

" 'Die  Caliloriiia  l)attnIion  (Fromoiit's)  was  oi-f^aiiizod  under 
my  own  jicrson-'d  direction  and  atitliority,  nn<I(}r  a  special  (;ondi- 
tion  that  it  sli<»nld  act  under  n)V  orders  as  lnn<j:  as  I  mii;lit 
remain  in  Califortda  and  require  its  services.  It  was  paid  \*y 
mv  orders,  as  loui;  as  I  had  anvtiiin<r  to  pav  with.  Tlie  oflicers 
derived  their  appointments  exchisively  from  me.  It  was  never, 
in  any  form  or  njanner,  mustered  into  the  service  of  tlio  United 
States  as  a  part  of  the  army  or  conncctotl  with  it.  It  was  exclu- 
sively and  essentiidly  a  navy  organization.  The  battalion  was 
entirely  comj)Osed  of  volunteers,  organized  under  my  authority, 
but  with  their  own  free  consent,  according  to  the  terms  of  a  dis- 
tinct and  specific  agreement  to  obey  mv  orders  and  to  servo 
while  1  shouhl  require  their  services.  These  men  were  not  of 
that  kind  of  prrsonnel  whicii  sometimes  composes  regular  armies  : 
tliey  were  principally  free  American  citizens  who  liad  settled  in 
California;  they  were  men  of  respectability,  of  influence,  and 
of  property  ;  they  were  no  ordinary  men,  because,  when  told 
that  I  had  offered  them  as  pay  ^en  dollars  a  month,  they  said 
that  they  would  not  accept  that  pay — that  it  would  not  pay 
their  expenses — but  that  they  would  volunteer  to  serve  under 
my  command  without  compensation. 

"This  was  the  origin,  character,  and  position  of  the  battalion 
wlien  engaged,  in  co-operation  with  the  squadron  under  my 
command,  in  accomplishing  the  objects  which  I  had  in  view. 

"  Such  was  the  posture  of  things  wlien  General  Kearney  arrived 
in  California,  and  wlien  he  joined  mo  in  San  Diego.  lie 
brought  with  him  a  very  inconsiderable  force,  wliolly  insuffi- 
cient of  itself  to  a(;complish  the  important  objects  of  trantpiilizing 
the  province  and  subjecting  it  to  the  authority  of  the  Union,  by 
the  suppression  of  the  iusurroction  which  had  been  organized  for 
the  purpose  of  recovering  the  positions  we  occujded,  overthrowing 
tlie  government  we  had  organized,  and  expelling  us  from  the 


I 


T 


CONQUEST  OF  CALIFORNIA   COMPLETED. 


185 


Moun- 

uikUt 

niiijlit 

iiiitl  l»y 

(•fticers 

^  never, 

United 

R  exc-lu- 

ion  was 

ithority, 

)f  a  clis- 

to  servo 
not  of 

armies : 

cttled  in 

ice,  and 

lien  told 
ley  said 
not  pay 
under 

attalion 
der  my 
iew. 

V  arrived 
tnro.  He 
y  insuffi- 
^uilizino; 
nion,  by 
mized  for 
throwinf^ 
from  the 


country,  if,  indeed,  it  bad  proved  itself  able  to  defend  itself 
without  our  aid.  *  ♦  *  ♦  • 

"The  battalion  was  never  jilaccd  unilcr  tbo  comtnand  of 
(teneral  Kearney  l)y  ?ne,  and  was  not  suiijccted  to  bis  orders. 
Tf  still  remained  in  iiiiincdiato  subordinatiot)  to  me  ami  to  my 
autliority.  Uj)  to  the  period  last  mentioned, — viz.:  tlio  date  of 
our  occupation  of  C'iudad  de  los  Anpfoles,  the  only  authority 
which  General  Kearney  liad  exercised,  while  ho  accompanied 
me,  was  simply  th.'it  authority  Avhich  lio  liad  asked  mo  to  givo 
him,  and  wliich  ho  had  voluntarily  accepted  at  my  liands. 

"No  one  has  ever  pretended — T  certainly  never  claimed — 
that  I  possessed  any  right  or  authority  to  command  (Jeneral 
Kearney  as  such.  All  tlio  power  which  I  ever  claimed  or 
exercised  over  him  was  derived  from  liis  volunteering  to  aid  me 
and  to  act  under  my  orders.  This  connection,  being  purely  one 
created  by  mutual  consent,  was,  at  any  time,  dissoluble  at  the 
will  of  either  of  the  parties.  As  I  could  not  originally  have 
compelled  General  Kearney  to  assume  the  position  he  held, 
neither  had  T  any  authority  to  detain  him  in  it  one  moment 
against  his  inclination.  He  might,  at  any  time,  have  laid  down 
his  character  as  a  volunteer  under  me,  and  resumed  his  official 
rank  and  rights  as  brigadier-general  in  the  army  of  the  United 
States. 

"In  his  capacity  of  brigadier-general,  however,  he  had  no 
authority  to  command  me  or  any  portion  of  my  force.  I  was  as 
independent  of  liim  as  he  confessedly  was  of  me.  If  the  force 
wliich  I  had  brougiit  ashore  from  the  squadron  constituted  a 
poition  of  the  navy — if  the  California  battalion,  wliich  I  had 
raised  and  organized,  was  ever  i-ightfully  subject  to  my  orders — 
both  were  as  independent  of  General  Kearney,  or  any  other 
officer  of  the  army,  as  I  myself  was. 

"  Xor  have  I  ever  questioned,  much  less  denied,  the  authority 
of  General  Kearney  to  assume  command  over  and  give  his  orders  to 
Lieutenant-Colonel  Fremont.  lie  might,  at  any  time,  without 
my  controverting  his  power,  have  directed  Lieutenant-Colonel 


it 


r 


|!  ii 


5: 


1' 


II  ^ 

h 

f 

i 

.'l    ' 

i 

1 

,  1 1 1. 


'    ft  I 


186  LIFE    AND   SKRVICKS   OF   JOUN   C.    FREMONT. 

Fremont  to  leave  my  command,  to  terminate  his  connection 
with  Mie  as  a  vohinteer  under  my  command,  and  to  report  to 
him  for  orders.  "With  any  such  exercise  of  authority  I  should 
never  have  interfered;  wliether  i-ightfuUy  or  wrongfully  exercised 
was  not  fur  me  to  judge.  That  was  a  matter  dependent  upon 
the  relative  rights  and  duties  of  the  parties  themselves,  as  fixed 
by  the  milit^iry  law,  and  to  be  decided  by  military  authority. 

I  did,  howe/er,  and  do  still,  deny  that  General  Kearney,  while 
occupying  the  position  of  volunteer  under  my  command,  had 
any  authoriiy  whatever,  as  brigadier-general,  over  any  portion 
of  the  forces  sej'vinfj  under  me.  I  deny  that  after  the  character 
of  volunteer  was  laid  do\v:i,  and  that  of  brigadier-general 
resumed,  lie  had,  as  such,  any  authorit}',  nor  could  the  Secretary 
of  War  give  him  any  such  authority  over  any  portion  of  the 
force  which  I  had  organized.  Whatever  authority  he  might 
lawfully  exercise  over  Lieutenant-Colonel  Fremont  personally,  I 
deny  that  it  reached  to  the  battalion  organized  under  mo  and 
by  me  placed  under  the  command  of  that  officer.  And,  finally, 
I  deny  that  Ge  'iral  Kearney  could  rightfully  control  me  in  my 
conduct  as  governor  of  California,  more  especially  after  having 
explicitly  refused  to  accept  the  supreme  authority  when  volun- 
tarily tendered  to  him. 

'*  I  have  the  honor  to  be,  faithfully, 

"  Your  obedient  servant, 

"  R.  F.  SrocKTOJf. 
"To  the  Hon.  John  Y.  Mason, 

'''  Secretary  of  the  Navy,  Washington^  D.  C." 

All  that  remains  to  be  told  of  the  conquest  of  Cali- 
fornia by  Col.  Fremont,  is  given  ^vitll  sutHcient  minute- 
ness in  the  following  extract  from  Air.  Upham's 
memoir  : 

'■'■  On  tlie  2Ttli  of  December,  the  battalion  entered 
without  resistance  the  town  of  Santa  Barbara,  where  it 
renuuned  recruiting  until  the  3d  of  January,  18-17.     On 


I 


i 


\     ; 


CONQinCST   OF   CALIFORNfA   COMPLETED. 


187 


Cali- 

nute- 

liam's 

Itered 
lero  it 
On 


the  mil  of  Jaiuiiiry,  wliile  pnrsuinf:^  their  inarch,  they 
were  met  by  two  Calit'oriiiuns,  riding  in  great  haste, 
barelieaded,  who  inlbrnied  them  that  the  American 
forces,  under  Commodore  Stockton,  liad  retaken  Los 
Angeles,  after  a  vict<.  nous  engagement  with  the  insur- 
gent forces.  The  enemy's  force  was  understood  to  be 
in  the  vicinity,  and  the  next  day  two  California  officers 
came  into  camp  to  treat  for  peace.  After  full  consulta- 
tion, articles  were  agreed  upon  on  the  13th  of  January, 
1847.  They  stipulated  that  all  California  should  deli- 
ver up  their  arms,  return  peaceably  to  their  homes,  not 
takr  up  arms  again  during  the  war  between  the  United 
StiUes  and  Mexico,  and  assist  and  aid  in  keeping  the 
country  in  a  state  of  peace  and  iranquillity.  Any  Cali- 
fornian  or  citizen  of  Mexico,  \vho  might  desire  to  do  so, 
was  permitted  to  leave  the  country,  and  none  bo 
required  to  take  the  oath  of  allegiance  to  the  United 
States,  until  a  treaty  of  peace  should  be  signed  and 
made  between  the  United  States  and  Mexico.  The 
articles  of  capitulation  were  signed  by  officers  duly 
commissioned  for  the  purpose,  and  approved  by  'J.  C. 
Fremont",  Lieutenant-Colonel  U.  S.  Army,  and  Military 
Commandant  of  California,  and  Andres  Pico,  Connnan- 
dant  of  Squadron  and  Chief  of  the  National  forces  of 
California.' 

"  This  was  the  '  Capitulation  of  Couenga.'  It  termi- 
nated the  war  so  far  as  California  was  concerned.  No 
hostile  arm  was  ever  again  lifted,  except  in  the  ordinary 
form  of  local  Lidian  outbreaks,  within  the  limits  of  that 
State,  against  the  authority  of  the  United  States.  It 
secured  reconciliation  as  well  as  peace.  It  is  in  evi- 
dence, on  the  records  of  the  government,  that  tlie  final 
conquest  of  California  could  not  have  been  accomplished 


i 


n 


I: 


•! 


ISi 


1        :| 


188 


LIFE   AND   SERVICES   OF  JOHN   C.    FKEMONT. 


by  any  force  then  on  the  Pacific  coast,  without  the  aid 
of  the  California  battali'^  .;  and  that,  had  it  not  been 
rvmsunimated  by  the  Treaty  of  Couenga,  a  'bloody, 
vexatious,  and  predatory  warfare,'  would  surely  have 
been  protracted  for  an  indefinite  length  of  time.  The 
whole  western  slope  of  the  Sierra  Nevada  would  have 
afforded  safe  retreats,  inaccessible  to  naval  and  even 
regular  military  forces,  from  which  ravaging  parties 
would  have  rushed  down  upon  the  plains,  and  where 
insurrectionary  movements  would  have  been  fomented 
perpetually.  Fremont  terrified  the  Californians  and 
the  Indians  by  the  celerity  and  boldness  of  his  move- 
ments, and  he  conquered  their  hearts  by  the  good  con- 
duct of  his  men,  and  the  moderation  and  clemency  of 
his  policy." 

In  a  dispatch  from  General  Kearney,  to  the  "War  De- 
partment at  Washington,  dated  Ciudad  de  los  Angeles, 
January,  l-itli,  18i7,  he  says  : 

"This  morning,  Lieutenant-Colonel  Fremont,  of  the  regiment 
of  mounted  rillemen,  reached  here  with  four  hundred  volunteers 
from  the  Sacramento ;  the  enemy  capituhiteJ  with  him  yester- 
day, near  San  Fernando,  agreeing  to  lay  down  their  arms,  and 
we  have  now  the  prospect  of  having  peace  and  quietness  in  this 
country,  which  I  hope  may  not  be  interrupted  again." 


ill-: 

I:' 


8T0CKT0N   AND   KEAKNEY. 


189 


the  aid 
ot  been 
bloody, 
ly  liuve 
.  The 
Id  have 
id  even 
parties 
.  where 
•men  ted 
ms  and 
;  move- 
jd  con- 
mcy  of 

^ar  De- 

Lngeles, 


egiment 

)lunteers 

yester- 

ins,  and 

s  in  this 


: 


CHAPTER  IX. 

ORIGIN    OF   THE   CONTROVERSY   BETWEEN   COLONEL   FREMONT 

AND     GENERAL     KEARNEY IS     ORDERED     BY     GENERAL 

KEARNEY  NOT  TO  RE-ORGANIZE  THE  CALIFORNIA  BAT- 
TALION  III3     REPLY GENERAL     KEARNEY     CLAIMS     THE 

COMMAND  OF  THE  CALIB^ORNIAN  ARMY  —  COMMODORE 
STOCKTON  REFUSES  TO  YIELD  IT THEIR  CORRESPON- 
DENCE  NEW  INSTRUCTIONS  FROM  WASHINGTON KEARNEY 

TAKES     THE     COMMAND FREMONT     IS     ORDiaiED    HOME 

HOSTILE    CORRESPONDENCE    WITH    COL.    MASON ARRESTED 

AT    FORI'    LEAVENWORTH INVITED    TO    A    PUBLIC    DINNER 

AT     ST.     LOUIS LETTER     DECLINING      THE     INVITATION 

ARRIVES   AT   W^ASHINGTON. 

The  differences  between  General  Kearnev  and  Conimo- 
dore  Stockton,  alluded  to  in  the  foregoing  disptitcli,  origui- 
ated  primarily  in  the  indetinitcness  of  the  instructions 
which  were  issued  from  the  seat  of  government.  Those 
addressed  to  the  naval  commanders  on  the  Paciiic,  in  their 
judgment  justified  the  organization  of  a  military  force  and 
a  civil  government  in  California,  and  under  those  instruc- 
tions Commodore  Stockton  autlioi'ized  Fremont  to  organ- 
ize the  California  battalion  and  take  its  command  with  the 
title  of  Major.  By  virtue  of  those,  he  likewise  took  the 
necessary  steps  for  the  organization  of  a  civil  govern- 


ill 


I 


190 


LTFK    AND    SKUVICES    OF  JOHN   C.    FRKMONT. 


1 

> 

■ 

I 

,1 

■1' 

1 

1 

]       I 

J, 

h 

!     ; 

■    1 

■;h 

i 

■  I 

i' 

( 

1 

i 

1 

1        ii 

mcnt  for  Calitoniiu  ;iiul  invested  Fremont  witli  tlic  tillo 
and  res]")onsil>ilities  of  Govenioi*. 

As  Boon  as  tluso  rosulti  were  consiunniated,  Kit 
Carson  wa.s  sent  with  an  escort  of  liftecn  men  to  bear 
tiie  intelliiireneo  overland  to  Wasliinujton,  as  soon  as 
})ossil)Ie.  Just  as  he  liad  crossed  the  desert  and  was 
approaching  the  American  frontier,  lie  was  met  by 
General  Kearney  with  a  small  force  of  draii:oons  march- 
ing  westward,  nnder  instructio!is  from  his  gcn'ernment 
to  conquer  California  and  organize  a  civil  government 
in  the  territory,  a  work  which  had  already  been  success- 
fully accomplished. 

Upon  learning  what  had  occurred,  Kearney  insisted 
upon  Carson's  returning  with  him  as  his  guide  to 
California,  having  forwarded  the  dispatches  to  Wash- 
iiiii'ton  by  another  messemxer  of  his  own  selection. 
Upon  the  general's  arrival  at  Los  Angeles,  the  capital 
of  California,  and  the  seat  of  the  new  government, 
the  contest  soon  rose  between  himself  and  Commodore 
Stockton,  which  is  referred  to  in  the  commodore's  dis- 
patch. The  i)rocess  bj  which  Colonel  Fremont  became 
involved  in  this  controversy  is  obvious,  lie  held  a 
commission  in  the  army  as  lieutenant  of  topograi)hical 
engineers,  and  as  such  was  primarily  subject  to  the 
orders  of  his  superior  general  officer  of  the  army,  lie 
had  since  yielded  to  the  exigencies  of  the  occasion,  and 
from  motives  and  for  reasons  which  cannot  be  impeach- 
ed, waived  any  privileges  he  might  have  claimed,  a^i  the 
real  conqueror  of  North  California,  and  in  point  of  rank, 
the  superior  representative  of  the  army  on  the  Pacific 
coasi,  and  with  his  uru,  yolunteered  to  serve  under 
Commodore  Stockton  in  the  farther  prosecution  of  tlio 
war  in  Souih  California,  the  subiu2:Jition  of  which  could 


STOCKTON   AND   KEARNEY. 


191 


ic  titlo 

(1,  Kit 
()  boar 
Doii    as 

net  by 
iii:\rch- 
rnniciit 
rimuMit 
ucccss- 

iiisisted 
lidc   to 
Wash- 
lectioii. 
capital 
niiient, 
nodorc 
8  dis- 
ecaiiKj 
lield  JL 
pliical 
to   the 
lie 
•n,  and 
peach- 
a^i  the 
t'  rank, 
*acitic 
under 
of  the 
could 


not  be  so  succcssfuilv  eflected  witb.out  tlic  aid  of  a  tloet. 
,  By  accoptin*^  the  <2;oveniorship  of  California,  a  vacancy 
liad  been  created  in  tlic  command  of  tlie  C/alifornia 
battalion  and  otlier  cbanf^cs  liad  become  necessary. 
Tlic  first  intimation  wbicb  Colonel  Fremont  received  of 
General  Kearney's  intention  to  test  tbc  validity  of  Com- 
modore Stockton's  acts  through  him,  was  conveyed  in 
the  following  note. 

"  IlEADQOARTBnS,    AHMT   OF  THE   WeST,  1 

"  CiCDAD  DE  LOS  AsoKLF.9,  January  16, 1847.  J 

"  By  direction  of  Brigadier  General  Kearney,  I  send  you  a 
copy  of  a  connnuni(,'ation  to  him  from  the  Secretary  of  War, 
dated  June  18,  1840,  in  which  is  the  following,  'These  troops 
and  such  as  may  be  organized  in  California  will  be  under  your 
command.'  The  general  directs  that  no  change  will  be  made  in 
the  organization  of  your  battalion  of  volunteers  or  oflicers 
appointed  in  it,  whhout  his  sanction  or  approval  being  first 
obtained. 

"Wm.F.  Emory. 
^'■Lieutenant  and  Acting  Assistant  Adjutant  General." 

This  note  at  once  raised  the  question  whether  he  was  to 
obey  General  Kearney,  and  thereby,  so  far  as  his  example 
could  go,  invalidate  the  acts  of  Commodore  Stockton,  in 
which  he  had  co-operated,  or  ob3y  Commodore  Stockton, 
and  so  far  as  his  decision  would  go,  sustain  the 
validity  of  those  proceedings  which  he  believed  to 
be  bo^h  legal  and  patriotic.  If  he  took  the  former 
course  he  incurred  the  liability  to  be  arraigned  and,  in 
liis  iudi»:ment,  iustlv  dism'aced  for  disobevinsj  an  officer 
whoso  rank  and  authority  he  hi.d  deliberately  recogniz- 
ed ;  and  he  further  incurred  the  charge  of  base  ingrati- 
tude towards  an  officer  whose  courtesy  and  confidence 


ii 


'  y\ 


i 


(  I 


l|  I:  il 


It 

I  i*i  1 


'      3 


102  LIFE   AND   6ERVICK8   OF   JOHN   C.    FREMONT. 

he  had  shared,  whose  conduct  he  had  approved,  and 
who  unex2)ectcdly  found  liimself  in  a  situation  to  need 
the  support  of  his  friends.  Fremont  was  incapable  of 
deserting  either  a  friend  or  what  Jie  deemed  liis  post  of 
duty;  he  accordingly  addressed  to  General  Kearney 
the  following  reply  on  the  following  day : 

COL.  FREMONT  TO  GENERAL  KEARNEY. 

"CiCDAD  DB  L08  Angelrs,  Jan.  17,  1847. 

"  Sni :  I  li.'ive  the  honor  to  be  in  receipt  of  your  favor  of  hist 
night,  in  which  I  am  directed  to  suspend  the  execution  of  orders 
which,  in  iny  capacity  of  military  commandant  of  this  territory, 
I  had  received  from  Commodore  Stockton,  governor  and  com- 
mander-in-chief, in  California.  I  avail  myself  of  an  early  hour 
this  morning  to  make  such  a  reply  as  the  brief  time  allowed  for 
reflection,  will  enable  me. 

"  I  found  Commodore  Stockton  in  possession  of  the  country, 
exercising  the  functions  of  military  commandant  and  civil  gov- 
ernor, as  early  as  July  of  last  year;  and  shortly  thereafter  I 
received  from  him  the  commission  of  military  commandant,  the 
duties  of  which  I  immediately  entered  upon,  and  have  continued 
to  exercise  to  the  present  moment. 

"  I  found  also,  on  my  arrival  at  this  place,  some  three  or  four 
davs  ince,  Coinmodore  Stockton  still  exercisins:  the  functions 
of  civil  and  military  governor,  with  the  same  appparent  deference 
to  his  rank  on  the  part  of  all  officers  (including  yourself),  as  ho 
maintained  and  required  when  he  assumed  them  in  July  last. 

"  I  learned,  also,  in  conversation  with  you,  that  on  the  march 
from  San  Diego,  recently,  to  this  place,  you  entered  upon,  and 
discharged  duties  implying  an  acknowledgment  on  your  p;i,rt, 
of  supremacy  to  Commodore  Stockton. 

"  I  eel,  therefore,  with  great  deference  to  your  professional 
and  personal  character,  constrained  to  say  that,  until  you  and 
Commodore  Stockton  adjust  between  yourselves,  the  question  of 


STOCKTON   AND   KEARNEY. 


im 


vcd,  and 
1  to  need 
ipabl^  of 
is  post  of 
Iveiu-ney 


Jan.  IT,  18-17. 
favor  of  last 
Aon  of  orders 
this  territory, 
lor  and  com- 
an  early  bour 
te  allowed  for 

,f  tlie  country, 
and  civil  gov- 
tliereafter  I 
nmandant,  the 
lave  continued 

three  or  four 
the  functions 
arcnt  deference 
yourself),  as  ho 
,u  July  last, 
b  on  the  inarch 
ered  upon,  and 
on  your  part, 

)ur  professional 
until  you  and 
the  question  of 


rank,  whero  I  respectfully  think  the  difficulty  belongs,  I  shall  have 
to  report  and  receive  orders,  as  heretofore,  from  the  commo- 
dore. 

"  With  considerations  of  high  regard,  I  a.n,  sir,  your  obedi 

ent  servant, 

"J.  C.  Fremont, 

^^  Lieutenant- ColoKtl,  U.  S.  Army ^  and  Military 

"  Commandant  of  the  Territory  of  Ccliforniay 

*'  Brigadier-General  S.  W.  Kearney, 

»  U.  S.  Army." 

Tlie  same  day  that  General  K.arney  addressed  the 
note  above  quoted,  to  Mr.  Fremont,  a  yet  more  seriona 
correspondence  commenced  between  him  and  Commo- 
dore Stockton.  We  give  it  at  length  with  the  intro- 
ductory remarks  of  Commodore  Stockton's  biographer, 
who  evidently  wrote  under  the  eye  and  approval  of  the 
commodore : 

"  Fremont  throughout  the  California  war,  was  strictly  and 
technically  in  the  naval  service,  under  Commodore  Stockton. 
He  had  taken  service  under  him  with  an  express  agreement  that 
he  would  continue  subject  to  his  orders  as  long  as  he  continued 
in  command  in  Callifornia.  This  engagement  both  he  and 
Captain  Gillespie  had  entered  into  from  patriotic  motives,  and 
to  render  the  most  efficient  service  to  the  country.  He  visited 
California  originally  upon  topographical,  and  not  on  military 
duty.  His  volunteering  under  Stockton  on  special  service,  was 
a  patriotic  impulse,  in  complying  with  which  the  government 
were  in  honor  bound  to  sustain  him.  He  therefore,  very^ro- 
perly  refused  to  violate  his  agreement  with  Stockton,  and  unite 
with  Kearney  against  hira. 

"  Having  failed  to  compel  Fremont  to  acknowledge  his  autho- 
rity, the  general  addressed  himself  to  the  commodore  and 
demanded  that  he  should  abdicate  the  comrap"d-ln-chief. 

9 


l!U 


lAFK    AM>    8KRVICES    OF    .TOnN    C.    FKOIcmT. 


"Tlio  coniinodoro  considoriug  tlie  subjugation  of  Califoniia 
coinploie,  and  lliat  no  further  hostilities  were  likely  to  take 
j»l<'U'0,  was  ol'  opitiiou  that  he  might  now  reliiujuish  his  governor- 
ship, and  coniniand-in-ehief,  and  return  to  his  ships.  J>ut,  hav- 
ing intbrmed  the  government  that  upon  that  event  he  intended 
to  appoint  Colonel  Fremont  governor,  he  now  proceeded  to 
carry  that  design  into  execMition. 

"(jieneral  Kearney,  learning  this  to  be  the  purpose  of  tlie 
commodore,  and  desirous  of  exercisinix  tlio  functions  of  irovernor 
himself,  addressed  to  liim  tlie  following  letter,  wiiich,  with  the 
ensuing  correspondence,  will  apprise  the  reader  of  the  true  rela- 
tions of  the  parties  better  than  we  could  state  them. 


GENERAL    KEARNEY    TO    COMMODOKE    STOCKTON. 


Ei      'If  I 


I      1 


"  IIhadquarters,  Arvt  ok  thk  Wust,  » 

"CiUDAD  DK  LOS  Anqki.ss,  January  16,  1847.  J 

"  Sir  :  I  am  informed  tliat  you  are  now  engaged  in  organ- 
izing a  civil  government,  and  appointing  olficers  for  it  in  this 
territory.  As  this  duty  has  been  specially  assigned  to  myself,  by 
orders  of  the  President  of  the  United  States,  conveyed  in  letters 
to  me  from  the  Secretary  of  War,  of  June  3,  8,  and  18,  1846  ; 
the  original  of  whigh  I  gave  to  you  on  the  12th,  and  which  you 
returned  to  me  on  tlie  13th,  and  copies  of  which  I  furnished 
you  with  on  the  26tli  December,  I  have  to  ask  if  you  have 
any  authority  from  the  President,  from  the  Secretary  of  the 
Navv,  or  from  anv  other  channel  of  the  President,  to  form  such 
government  and  make  such  appointments. 

"  If  you  liave  such  authority,  and  will  show  it  to  me  or 
furnish  me  with  a  certitied  copy  of  it,  T  will  cheerfully  ac- 
quiesce in  what  you  are  doing.  If  you  have  not  such  autho- 
rity, I  then  demand  that  you  cease  all  further  proceedings 
relating  to  the  formation  of  a  civil  government  for  this  terri- 


STOCKTON    AND   KKARNKY. 


195 


ilfornia 
o  take 
vernor- 
»t,  l»fiv- 
itcndcd 
iiled  to 

3  of  tV.e 
fovcrnor 
•vith  tlio 
rue  rela- 


in  organ- 
it  in  this 
hnyself,  by 
in  letters 
18,  1846; 
which  you 
furnished 
you   have 
ry  of  the 
form  such 

to  me  or 
perfully  ac- 
iuch  autho- 

)voceeding3 
this  terri- 


torv,  ns    I  cannot  rocojrnize  in  you  any  riii;lit  in  assuming  to 
perform  duties  confided  to  me  by  the  President. 
"Very  respectfully  your  obedient  servant, 

"  S.  \V.  Kkahney, 
"  Driyadier-General^  United  States  Army. 

"Commodore  R.  F.  Stockton,  Acting  Governor  of  California." 

COMMODORE  STOCKTON  TO  ORNKRAL  KEARNEV. 

"  IlRADQnARTBRS,  CiUDAD  DB  L09  Anoklks,  Jan.  16,  184T. 

"  Sir  :  In  answer  to  your  note  received  this  afternoon,  1 
need  say  but  little  more  than  that  which  T  communicated  to  you 
in  a  conversation  at  San  Diog-o — that  California  was  conquered, 
and  a  civil  government  put  into  successful  operation,  that  a  copy 
of  the  laws  made  by  me  for  the  government  of  the  territory^ 
and  the  names  of  the  officers  selected  to  see  them  fuithfully  exe- 
cuted, were  transmitted  to  the  President  of  tlie  United  States 
before  you  arrived  in  the  territory. 

"  I  will  only  add,  that  I  cannot  do  anything  nor  desist  from 
doing  anytliing  on  your  demand,  wliich  I  will  submit  to  the 
President  and  ask  for  your  recall.  In  the  meantime  you  will 
consider  yourself  suspended  from  the  command  of  the  United 
States  forces  in  this  place. 

"  Faithfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

"  R.  F.  Stockton, 
"  Commander-in-chief. 

"  To  Brevet  Brigadier-General  S.  W.  Kearney." 

general  KEARNEY  TO  COMMODORE  STOCKTON. 

•'  IIkadquartkrh,  Armt  of  thr  Wbbt,      I 

ClDDAD  DE  LOS  Akobles,  Jdll.  17,  1847.  f 

"Sir:  In  my  communication  to  you  of  yesterday's  date  1 
stated  that  I  had  learned  that  you  were  engaged  in  organizing 


m 


nil 

i . 


.  I 


196 


IJKK   AND   SERVI0K8   OF  JOHN  0.    FREMONT. 


a  civil  jrovernment  for  California.  I  referred  you  to  tlie  Presi- 
dent's instructions  to  nio  (tiio  original  of  which  you  have  seen) 
and  copies  of  which  I  furnished  you,  to  perform  that  duty,  and 
I  added  that  if  you  had  any  authority  from  the  President,  or 
any  of  his  organs,  for  what  you  were  doing,  I  would  cheerfully 
acquiesce,  and  if  you  had  not  such  authority  I  demanded  that 
you  would  cease  further  proceedings  in  the  matter. 

"  Your  reply  of  the  same  date  refers  me  to  a  conversation 
held  at  San  Diego,  and  adds  that  you  cannot  do  anything  or  de- 
sist from  doing  anything  or  alter  anything  on  your  (my)  demand. 
As,  in  consequence  of  the  defeat  of  the  enemy  on  the  8th  and 
Olh  inst.,  by  the  the  troops  under  my  command,, and  the  capitu- 
lation entered  into  on  the  13th  inst.  by  Lieutenant-Colonel 
Fremont  with  the  leaders  of  the  Californians,  in  which  the 
people  under  arms  and  in  the  field  agree  to  disperse  and  remain 
quiet  and  peaceable,  the  country  may  now,  for  the  first  time,  bo 
considered  as  conquered,  and  taken  possession  of  by  us ;  and  as 
I  am  prepared  to  carry  out  the  President's  instructions  to  me, 
which  you  oppose,  I  must,  for  the  purpose  of  preventing  a  col- 
lision between  us  pid  possibly  a  civil  war  in  consequence  of 
it,  remain  silent  for  the  present,  leaving  with  you  the  great 
responsibility  of  doing  that  for  which  you  have  no  authority, 
and  preventing  me  from  complying  with  the  President's  orders. 

"  Very  res^iectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

"S.  W.  Keabney, 
^^  JBrif/adler- General,  United  States  Army. 

"  Commodore  R.  F.  Stockton,  Acting  Governor  of  Califo  nia." 


The  motives  which  actuated  Col.  Fremont  in  electing 
to  pursue  the  course  which  he  did  upon  the  arrival  of 
Gen.  Kearney,  are  scarcely  open  to  misconstruction. 
There  happens,  however,  to  be  the  best  of  evidence  in 
regard  to  them  in  a  letter  addressed  to  Col.  Benton  at 


STOCKTON    AND    KMARNKY. 


197 


Presi- 

seeii) 
,y,  and 
ent,  or 
serfuHy 
jd  that 

ivsation 
r  or  de- 
lernand. 
8tU  jvnd 
5  capitu- 
-Colonel 
licU   the 
i  remain 
time,  be 
;  and  as 
IS  to  me, 
ig  a  col- 
uence  of 
he  great 
uthority, 
's  orders. 


tes  Army. 
lalitb  nia." 

electing 

Irrival  of 

Itniction. 

lence  in 

ienton  at 


^\ 


tlie  timo  of  the  collision  which  reveals  in  all  the  con- 
lidcuce  of  perKoiial  friendship,  the  innermost  secrets  of 
his  heart.     In  that  letter,  he  says : 

*  *  *  "When  T  entered  Los  Angeles  I  wan  igno- 
rant of  the  relations  subsisting  between  these  gentlemen,  having 
received  from  neither  any  order  or  information  which  might 
servo  as  a  guide  in  the  circumstances.  I  therefore,  immediately 
on  my  arrival,  waited  upon  the  governor  and  commander-in- 
chief,  CuHjmodore  Stockton ;  and,  a  few  minutes  afterwards, 
called  upon  (Jeneral  Kearney.  I  soon  found  them  occupyin""  a 
hostile  attitude,  and  each  denying  the  right  of  the  other  to 
assume  the  direction  of  affairs  in  this  country. 

"  The  ground  assumed  by  General  Kearney  was,  that  he  lield 
in  his  hand  plenary  instructions  from  th«  President  directino- 
him  to  conquer  California,  and  organize  a  civil  government, 
and  that  consequently  he  would  not  recognize  the  acts  of  Com- 
modore Stockton. 

"The  latter  maintained  that  his  own  instructions  were  to  the 
same  effect  as  Kearney's;  that  this  officer's  commission  was 
obsolete,  and  never  would  have  been  given  could  the  govern- 
ment have  anticipated  that  the  entire  country,  seaboard  and 
interior,  would  have  been  conquered  and  held  by  himself.  The 
country  had  been  conquered  and  a  civii  government  instituted 
since  September  last,  the  constitution  of  the  territory,  and 
appointments  under  the  constitution,  had  been  sent  to  the  gov- 
vernment  for  its  approval,  and  decisive  action  undoubtedly  long 
since  had  upon  them.  General  Kearney  was  instructed  to  con- 
quer the  country,  and  upon  its  threshold  his  command  had  been 
nearly  cut  to  pieces,  and,  but  for  relief  from  him  (Commodore 
Stockton)  would  have  been  destroyed.  Mv^re  men  were  lost 
than  in  General  Taylor's  battle  of  the  8th.  In  regard  to  the 
retiiaining  part  of  his  instructions,  how  could  he  organize  a  gov- 
ernment without  first  proceeding  to  disorganize  the  present  one? 


'  »l 


!;'{ 


:  !i 


1% 


I 


I      I 


lOS 


LIKK    AND   BKUVICKd   OF   JcJlIN    C.    FK...»ruXr. 


His  work  liad  boen  antldprited;  his  commission  was  absolutely 
V(>i<l,  null,  and  of  no  ctKict. 

"Hut  if  (Jcnt'i-al  K«'arm'y  iM'lievod  that  his  instructions  irave 
liini  |),'\rain()Uiit  autlioiily  in  the  country,  h«  nia<it'  a  fatal  (-rror 
on  his  arrival.  \U)  was  rciuMvcd  with  kindri'.'ss  and  distino- 
tion  by  i)ie  coniniodoro,  a!id  ollerod  by  him  the  connnand  of  Lis 
land  forces  (icneral  Kearney  rejected  the  otter  and  declined 
intorf«'rinf(  kvith  Commodore  Stockton.  This  ollicer  was  then 
prepariiiiL!,'  for  a  n)arch  to  ('iutla<l  de  los  Anjjeles,  his  force  being 
priiK.'ipally  sailors  and  marines,  wIkj  were  all  on  foot  (tortunately 
for  them),  and  who  were  to  be  provided  with  supplies  on  their 
march  throus^h  an  enemy's  country  where  all  the  people  are 
cavalry.  His  force  was  paraded,  and  ready  to  start,  700  in 
number,  supported  by  six  pieces  of  artillery.  The  command, 
under  General  Stockton,  had  been  conferred  upon  liis  first  lieu- 
tenant, Mr.  Rowan.  At  this  juncture  General  Kearney  expressed 
to  Commodore  Stockton  liis  expectation  that  the  command 
would  have  been  o;iven  to  him.  The  commodore  informed  tlie 
general  that  Lieutenant  Rowan  was  in  his  usual  line  of  duty,  as 
on  board  shij),  relieving  him  of  the  detail  and  drudgery  of  the 
cam}),  while  he  himself  remained  the  commander-in-chief;  that 
if  General  Kearney  was  willing  to  accept  Mr.  Rowan's  place, 
under  these  circumstances,  he  could  have  it.  The  general 
assented.  Commodore  Stockton  called  up  his  officers  and 
explained  the  case.  Mr.  Rowan  gave  up  his  post  generously 
and  without  hesitation;  and  Commodore  Stockton  desired  them 
clearly  to  understand  that  he  remained  the  commander-in-chief; 
under  this  arrangement  the  whole  force  entered  Angeles;  and 
on  the  day  of  my  arrival  at  that  place  General  Kearney  told  me 
that  he  did  then,  at  tliat  moment,  recognize  Commodore  Stock- 
ton as  goveiiior  of  the  territory. 

"You  are  aware  that  I  had  contracted  relations  with  Commo- 
dore Stockton,  and  I  thouglit  it  neither  right  nor  politically 
honorable  to  withdraw  my  support.  No  reason  of  interest  shall 
ever  compel  me  to  act  towards  any  man  in  such  a  way  that  I 
should  afterwards  be  ashamed  to  meet  him." 


BTOrKTON    AND   KEARNEY. 


199 


iolutely 

ns  cfftve 

ill  error 

(listinc- 

.1  of  Lift 

riis  ill  en 
I'O  being 
•tuiiiitely 
on  their 
■ople  are 
,  700  in 
oniinund, 
[irst  lieu- 
expressed 
Ljonunand 
rnied  the 
f  duty,  as 
ry  of  the 
lief;  that 
n's  place, 
3    general 
icers   and 
generously 
red  them 
r-in-c-hief; 
••eles;  and 
y  told  me 
ore  Stock- 


Coninio- 
>oliti('ally 
erest  shall 
ivay  that  I 


I 


Early  in  the  spring,  new  Instructioiia,  bejuiii^  duto 
Nov.  5tli,  reiu'lied  Conmu^dore  Stockton,  wliii'h  put  nn 
end  to  the  hitter's  HUj)reniiu'y  in  that  quarter.  In  his 
disi)ateli,  tlie  Secretary  of  llie  Navy  Bays: 

*'The  President  has  deemed  it  best  for  the  public  interests,  to 
invest  the  military  olHcor  conimanding,  with  the  direction  of  the 
ojteiations  on  land,  and  with  the  adiuiiiistrative  functions  of  the 
government  over  the  people  and  territory  occupied  by  us.  You 
will  relin(|uish  to  Col.  Mason,  or  to  General  Kearney,  if  the  lat- 
ter shall  arrive  before  you  have  done  so,  the  entire  control  over 
these  matters,  and  turn  over  to  him  all  papers  necessary  to  the 
performance  of  his  duties." 

Instrnctions  of  a  corresponding  import  were  of  course 
received  from  the  War  Department,  by  General  Kear- 
ney, and  with  them,  or  not  long  afterwards,  a  dispatch 
from  Mr.  Marcy,  of  which  the  following  is  an  extract : 


EXTRACT    FROM  INSTRUCTIONS  TO  BRIGADIER-GKNER AL  KEARNEY. 

"  War  Dipartmknt,  June,  11,  1S47. 

r^  0^  ^C  ^^  ^p  ^>  'T^  ^P  *|* 

"  When  the  dispatch  from  this  Department  was  sent  out  in 
November  last,  there  was  reason  to  believe  that  Lieutenant-Col- 
onel Fremont  would  desire  to  return  to  the  United  States,  and 
you  were  then  directed  to  conform  to  his  wishes  in  that  respect. 
It  is  not  now  proposed  to  change  that  direction.  But  since  that 
time  it  has  become  known  here  that  he  bore  a  conspicuous  part 
in  the  conquest  of  California,  that  his  services  have  been  vert/ 
valuable  in  that  country,  and  doubtless  will  continue  to  be  so 
should  lie  remain  there. 

"Impressed,  as  all  engaged  in  the  public  service  must  be,  with 
the  great  importance  of  harmony  and  cordial  co-operation  in 
carrying  on  military  operations  in  a  country  so  distant  from  the 
seat  of  authority,  the  President  is  persuaded  that  when  his  deji- 


i 


1 

1 
1 

t 

ti 

.  i 

f 

1                1 

1 
1 

1 

1; 

LIFE    AND    SEKVIOES   OF   JOHN    C,    FREMONT. 


nite  instructions  were  received^  all  questions  of  difficulty  were  set- 
tled, and  all  feel inf/s  which  had  been  elicited  hij  the  agitation  of 
them  had  subsided. 

"  Should  Lieut.  Col.  Fremont,  who  has  the  option  to  return  or 
remain,  adopt  tlie  latter  alternative,  ilie  President  does  not 
doubt  you  will  employ  Lira  in  such  a  manner  as  will  render  his 
services  most  available  to  the  public  interest,  having  reference  to 
his  extensive  acquaintance  with  the  inhabitants  of  California, 
and  his  knowledge  of  their  language,  qualifications  independent 
of  others,  wiiich  it  is  supposed  may  be  very  useful  in  the  present 
and  prospective  state  of  our  affairs  in  that  country.  *  *  * 
"  Very  respectfully  your  ob't  servant, 

"  W.   L.   Marcy,  Secretary  of  War." 

The  "definite  instructions"  to  which  reference  is  here 
made  were  never  comiTinnicated  to  CohDnel  Fremo?it, 
and  their  suppression  was  very  justly  esteemed  by  him 
a  grievance  for  several  reasons,  and  among  others,  be- 
cause they  show  that  by  the  President's  directions  it 
V\  as  at  Col.  Fremont's  option  whether  he  would  remain 
in  California  or  not,  an  option,  how^'ver,  which  was 
denied  him  by  General  Kearney. 

Early  in  March,  and  after  taking  the  supreme  com- 
mand in  California,  Gen.  Kearney  addressed  Col.  Fre- 
mont the  following  letter  : 


M 


GEN.   KEARNEY   TO    COL.    FREMONT. 

"  IlaADQUARTKRS,   lUTH  IVTiLITAKY  DEPARTMENT,  ) 

MuNTKKKY,  U.  0.,  JfarcU  1,  1S47.  j 

"  Sir  :  By  Department  orders,  No.  2,  of  this  date  (which  will 
be  lianded  to  you  by  Captain  Turner,  1st  Di'agoons,  A.A.A.G.,  for 
my  command)  you  will  see  that  certain  duties  are  there  required 
of  you  as  commander  of  the  battalion  of  California  volunteers. 

"  In  addition  to  the  duties  above  referred  to,  I  have  now  to 
direct  that  you  will  bring  with  you,  and  with  as  little  delay  as 


CONTROVERSY    WITH    KEARNEY. 


201 


ere  set- 
tion  of 

turn  or 
3es  not 
ider  his 
•ence  to 
lifornia, 
pendent 

present 
*     * 

Varr 

is  here 
emoTit, 
by  liim 
BTS,  be- 
ions  it 
remain 

ll    WU9 

com- 
1.  Fre- 


TMKNT,  ) 
,    1S47.  f 

lich  will 
zV.G.,  for 
required 
nteers. 
now  to 
delay  as 


K 


possible,  all  tlio  archives  and  public  documents  and  papers  which 
may  be  subject  to  your  control,  and  which  appertain  to  the  gov- 
ernnient  of  California,  that  I  may  receive  them  from  your  hands 
at  this  place,  the  capital  of  the  Territory. 

"  I  have  directions  from  the  general-in-chief  not  to  detain  you 
in  this  country  against  your  wishes,  a  moment  longer  than  the 
necessities  of  the  service  may  require  ;  and  you  will  be  at  lib- 
erty to  leave  here  after  you  have  complied  with  these  instruc- 
tions, and  those  in  the  order  referred  to. 

"  Very  respectfully  your  obedient  servant, 

"S.  W.  Kearney, 
"  Brig,  Gen.,  and  Governor  of  California. 

"  Lt.  Col.  J.  G.  Fremont,  Regt.  of  Mtd.  Riflemen, 
Com'g.  Bat.  of  Califc.nia  Vols., 
Ciudad  de  los  Angeles." 

About  a  month  later,  he  received  the  following  ordei 
from  Gen.  Kearney : 

"  HEADqCARTEBS,  IOtH  MILITARY  DePARTMBITT,  > 

MoKTBJtBT,  California,  March  28.  f 

"Sir:  This  will  be  handed  to  you  by  Col.  Mason,  1st  Dra 
goons,  who  goes  to  the  southern  district,  clothed  by  me  with  fuU 
authority  to  give  such  orders  and  instructions  upon  all  matters, 
both  civil  and  military,  in  that  section  of  the  country,  as  he  may 
deem  proper  and  necessary.  Any  instructions  he  may  give  you, 
will  be  (iDnsidered  as  coming  from  myself." 

A  few  weeks  later  Col.  Fremont  received  orders 
from  General  Kearney  to  report  himself  at  Monterey 
with  such  of  the  members  of  his  topographical  corps  as 
were  still  under  pay,  prepared  to  set  out  at  once  for 
Washington.  Col.  Fremont  then  applied  for  perniiHsiou 
to  join  his  regiment  under  General  Taylor's  command, 
supposed  to  be  on  its  way  to  Vera  Crnz.     This  request 

9* 


I 


:'ii 


■•r 


i 

], 

i      ; 

■  1 

f      ! 

i; 

! 
1  1 

1 

■  1 

\^ 

J 

i 

lii 

I:'! 


202 


LIFE   AMI)    SKliVICKS   OF   JoUN   C.    FKKMONT. 


was  refused  without  explanation  ov  apology,  and  on  the 
14th  of  June  Col.  Fremont  addressed  General  Kearney 
as  follows : 

FKOM  COL.  FREMONT  TO  GENERAL  KEARNEY. 

•'  New  Helvetia,  Upper  California,  June  14, 1847. 

"  Sir  :  In  a  communication  which  I  received  from  yourself 
in  March  of  the  present  year  I  am  informed  that  you  had  been 
directed  by  the  commander-in-chief  not  to  detain  me  in  tliis 
country  against  my  wishes  longer  than  the  absolute  necessities 
of  the  service  might  require, 

"  Private  letters  in  which  I  have  entire  confidence  further  in- 
form me  that  the  Pi'esident  has  been  pleased  to  direct  that  I  should 
be  permitted  the  choice  of  joining  my  regiment  in  Mexico,  or 
returning  directly  to  the  United  States.  An  application  which  I 
had  the  honor  to  make  to  you  at  the  Ciudad  de  los  Angeles  for 
permission  to  proceed  immediately  to  Mexico,  having  been 
rejected,  and  the  duties  of  the  exploring  expedition  which  had 
been  confided  to  my  direction,  having  been  terminated  by  your- 
self, I  respectfully  request  that  T  may  now  be  relieved  of  all  con- 
nection with  the  topographical  party  which  you  have  taken  under 
your  charge,  and  be  permitted  to  return  to  the  United  States. 
Travelling  with  a  small  party  by  a  direct  route,  my  knowledge 
of  the  country  and  freedom  from  professional  business,  will 
enable  me  to  reach  the  States  some  forty  or  fifty  days  earlier  than 
yourself,  which  the  present  condition  of  atJtiirs  and  a  long  ab- 
sence from  my  family  make  an  object  of  great  importance 
to  me. 

"  It  may  *not  be  improper  to  say  to  you  that  my  journey  will 
be  made  with  private  means,  and  will  not  therefore,  occasion  any 
expenditure  to  the  government.  I  have  the  honor  to  be,  with 
much  respect,  your  obedient  servant, 

"J.  C.  Fremont, 
^^Lieut.  Colonel,  Mounted  Rijiemen. 
"Brigadier-General  S.  "W.  KEAUNnv,  Commanding,  (fee." 


C0NTK0VEE8Y    WITH   KEARNEY. 


203 


3n  the 
jarney 


14, 1847. 

yourself 
id  been 
in  this 
scessities 

ther  in- 
I  should 
ixico,  or 
which  I 
lijeles  for 
ng    been 
iiich  had 
by  your- 
■  all  con- 
:en  under 
d  States. 
Qowledge 
less,  will 
rlier  than 
long  ab- 
iportancto 

rney  will 
asion  any 
3  be,  with 


Eijlemen. 


I 


To  this  request  <  Jol.  Fremont  received  the  following 
reply : 

GENERAL  KEARNEY  TO  COL.  FREMONT. 

"  Oamp  near  New  IIelvetu.  California,  June  14, 1847. 

"Sir:  The  request  contained  in  your  communication  to  me 
of  this  date,  to  be  relieved  from  all  connection  with  the  topo- 
graphical party  (nineteen  men)  and  be  permitted  to  return  to 
the  United  States  with  a  small  party  made  up  by  your  private 
means,  oannoi,  be  granted. 

"  1  shall  leave  here  on  Wednesday,  the  16th  instant,  and  I 
require  of  you  to  be  with  your  topographical  party  in  my  camp 
(which  will  probably  be  fifteen  miles  from  here)  on  the  evening 
of  that  day,  and  to  continue  with  me  to  Missouri. 
"  Very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

"  S.  W.  Kearney. 
^'•Brigadier-  General. 

"Lieut.  Col.  Fremont,  Regiment  Mounted  Riflemen, 
"  New  Helvetia." 

The  appointment  of  Mason  to  the  command  of  the 
Southern  District  with  the  authority  over  Fremont,  con- 
ferred by  the  order  of  the  28th  of  March  proved  to 
the  latter  a  source  of  extreme  irritation  and  annoy- 
ance, and  was  near  producing  much  more  serious  results. 
Mason  seemed  to  share  the  grudge  which  General 
Kearney  bore  to  Fremont,  and  to  take  pleasure  in  doing 
whatever  seemed  calculated  to  mortify  and  humiliate 
him,  for  which,  if  he  chose  to  avail  himself  of  them,  of 
course  he  had  abundant  opportunities  in  his  new  posi- 
tion. Fremont  subsequently  came  to  the  conclusion 
that  Mason  wished  to  provoke  a  challenge,  and  then  by 
selecting  a  weapon  with  which  he  was  \qv\  expert — a 


JM 


204 


MFE    AND    SEItVIijES    OF   JOHN    C    FRIIMONT. 


donble-burrolled  shot-n^nii,  whicli  Fremont  knew  nothing 
about — to  slioot  him.  It'  snch  was  his  purpose,  lie  accom- 
plislied  it,  so  far  as  provoking  tlie  challenge,  and  having 
the  choice  of  his  fav^..nte  weapon.*  lie  was  in  tho 
liabit  of  sending  for  Fremont  several  times  a  day,  to 
come  to  his  ([uarters,  which  were  at  the  house  of  an 
unfriend ly  resident  at  los  Angeles,  to  be  questioned  in 
the  presence  of  other  officers  with  '•'^liom  he  had  no  S03ial 
relations,  and  who,  it  is  alleged,  were  in  attendance  for 
the  pur])ose  of  being  nsed  as  witnesses.  One  day  he 
directed  Fremont  to  bring  to  him  the  one  hundred  and 
twenty  horses  which  he  liad  sent  to  grass  in  the  country, 
to  recruit  for  a  march  into  Mexico,  which  lie  at  that 
time  contemplated,  to  join  General  Taylor,  litde  dream- 
ing, that  even  then,  his  enemies  were  collecting  their 
evidence,   and   perfecting  their   arrangements  to  have 


*  The  following  paragraph  from  the  Sporting  Magazine,  vol.  4,  p.  533, 
will  explain  Colonel  Mason's  preference  for  so  unusnal  and  unofficer-liko 
a  weapon  for  the  settlement  of  an  alfair  of  honor. 

"The  drawing  herewith  sent  is  a  sketch  of  a  scene,  in  which  Captaia 
R.  B.  Mason,  as  frequently  happens,  acted  a  conspicuous  part. 

"  A  party  of  six  gentlemen  left  St  Louis  about  10  o'clock  A.  M.,  with 
the  intention  of  hunting  a  lew  acres  of  high  grass  on  the  American  bot- 
tom, and,  if  possible,  killing  a  deer  or  two.  We  no  sooner  arrived  at  the 
high  grass  than  old  Rock  broke  forth  in  full  cry.  Ilis  deep-mouthed 
tones  were  barely  heard  before  two  line  does  bounced  in  front  of  Mr. 
Henderson,  but  two  far  oft'  for  a  successful  shot,  making  directly  for 
Captain  Mason,  who  wheeled  his  horse  directly  around ;  and,  as  rapidly 
as  the  occasion  required,  raised  his  gun  with  his  right  hand,  holding  the 
bridle  reins  Mith  the  left,  as  represented  in  the  drawing — fired  both 
barrels  in  (piick  succession,  bringing  down  dead  in  their  tracks,  one  with 
each  barrel.  It  was  the  work  of  an  instant,  and  the  eft'ect  was  like 
magic.  It  may  not  be  amiss  to  state  that  Captain  Mason  always  shoots, 
when  nu  >inted,  as  represented  in  the  plate  ;  and  I  have  seen  him  kill 
gsouso  on  the  wing  and  knock  down  deer  on  the  jump,  in  that  manner, 
and  sometimes  when  his  horse  was  nearly  at  his  .ipeed." 


TIIK    MASON    DUKL. 


205 


lothing 
accom- 
baving 

ill  the 
day,  to 
)  of  an 
oned  in 
ioso3ial 
aiice  for 
I  day  lie 
red  and 
country, 
1  at  that 
e  dream- 
ng  their 

to  have 


I.  4,  p.  533, 
noilicer-Mko 

ich  Captaia 

A.  M.,  with 
iicrican  bot- 
rivcd  at  the 
p-mouthed 
ont  of  Mr. 
irectly  for 
as  rapidly 
lolding  the 
-fired  both 
s,  one  with 
ct  was  like 
ays  shoots, 
en  hiui  kill 
lat  manner, 


i 


i 


It 
4 


i 


him  sent  home  in  disgrace.  The  order  to  produce 
tlie  luM'ses  was  esteemed  an  insulting  one,  under  tlie 
circumstances,  and  the  time  within  which  it  was  to 
be  executed  too  limited.  Mason  sent  for  Fremont 
twice  in  the  course  of  the  same  afternoon,  to  come 
to  his  quarters  to  answer  about  the  Iiorses.  Fre- 
mont resented  what  he  esteemed  the  brutality  of 
Mjusou's  course  and  numner,  to  which  Mason  replied, 
"  None  of  your  insolence,  or  I  will  put  you  in  irons." 
The  sequel  justified  Fremont's  sus})icions  that  the  order 
to  bring  up  the  horses  was  a  mere  pretext  for  insulting 
liim ;  for  when  brought,  they  were  turned  over  to 
Mason's  friendly  witness,  who  sold  them  for  one,  two, 
and  three  dollars  apiece.  Fremont's  friends  saw  that 
Mason's  designs  were  mischievous,  and  they  urged  the 
colonel  to  restrain  his  feelings  to  the  utmost.  lie  did 
Bo  until  the  remark  above  quoted  was  uttered,  when 
his  indignation  knew  no  bounds.  But  even  here 
his  coolness,  which  had  so  often  served  him  in 
more  trying  situations,  did  not  forsake  him.  lie 
at  on  30  asked  Mason  if  he  held  himself  person- 
ally accountable  for  what  he  said.  Mason  rej^lied 
that  he  did,  whereat  Fremont  leaped  upon  his  horse, 
dashed  back  to  his  quarters,  and  wrote  two  notes,  the 
first  asking  a  retraction  of  the  oft'ensive  words,  and  ano- 
ther based  upon  his  probable  refusal  to  make  a  retrac- 
tion, conveying  a  challenge,  and  dispatched  both  by  his 
friend  Major  F.  B.  Reading.  These  notes  and  Colonel 
Mason's  reply  to  the  first,  ran  as  follows : 

FREMONT    TO    MASOX. 

"  CiUDAD  DK  LOS  Aroeles,  Jpril  14,  1847. 

"Sir:    I    have   the    bonor    to    recjuest    through    my  friend, 
Major  P.  B.  Reading,  who  will  hand  you  this  note,  that  you 


206 


LIFE   AND   SERVICES   OF   JOHN    C.    FKEMONT. 


li 


apologize    for    the    injurious     language    applied    to    me   this 
day. 

"  Very  respectfully,  your  obe-lient  servant, 

"J.  C.  Fremont, 
"  Lieut,  Col.  Mounted  Rijlemen. 
"Col.  R.  R.  Mason, 
"  Col.  Dragoons,  Ciudad  de  los  Angeles." 


'  111 


MASON    TO    FREMONT. 

"Anoblbs,  April  14,  1847. 

"  Sir  :  I  have  just  received  your  note  of  this  evening,  and 
can  only  repeat  in  writing,  what  I  stated  to  you  verbally,  when 
we  parted,  viz. :  '  I  thought  you  intended  to  be  so.  You  best 
knew  whether  you  did  or  did  not.'  Your  not  disavowing  it,  left 
me  to  infer  that  I  was  not  mistrAen  ;  with  that  impression  upon 
my  mind,  I  can  say  nothing  more  until  it  be  removed. 

"I  am,  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

"R.  B.  Mason. 

"  Lieut.  Col.  J.  C.  Fremont, 

"  Mounted  Ritiemen." 

FREMONT    TO    MASON. 


•'Ciudad  db  los  Anoblbs,  April  14,  1847. 

"  Sir  :  An  apology  having  baen  declined,  Major  Reading  will 
arrange  the  preliminaries  for  a  meeting,  requiring  personal  satis- 
faction. 

"  Very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

"J.  C.  Fremont. 
"  Lieut.  Col.  Mounted  Rijlemen. 

"  CoL.  R.  B.  Mason, 
"  First  Dragoons,  Ciudad  de  los  Angeles." 

No  furtlier  answer  was  received  from  Mason  that 


this 


men. 


14,  184T. 

ng,  and 
,y,  when 
Ion  best 
g  it,  left 
ion  upon 

t, 
Mason. 


14,  1847. 

iding  will 
nal  satis- 


HJlemen. 


son 


that 


THE   MASON   DUEL. 


207 


tofening;  but  ri»ly;ng  on  the  verbal  acceptance  and 
designation  of  weapons,  loading  and  time,  Col.  Fremont's 
friends  proceeded  to  hnnt  np  a  double  barrelled  gr*". 
Col.  Fremont  had  no  sucli  weapon,  and  had  never  used 
such  a  one.  But  he  was  ready  by  daybreak,  with  the 
requisite  gun  and  shot,  but  nothing  was  heard  fartlier  of 
Mason  until  towards  noon,  when  Capt.  Smith  of  the 
dragoons,  arrived  with  the  following  note  : 


M.«.SON   TO    FREMONT. 

"  Anqbles,  AptHl  15,  1847. 

"Sir:  With  a  view  lo  the  adjustment  of  my  private  affairs, 
it  is  necessary  that  I  return  to  Monterey,  before  I  aflbrd  you  the 
meeting  you  desire.  We  shall  probably  reach  there  within  a 
a  few  days  of  each  other,  I  will  then,  as  soon  as  circumstances 
permit,  arrange  the  necessary  preliminaries  for  the  meeting. 
"  I  am  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

"R.  B.  Mason. 
"Lieut.  Col.  Fremont, 
"  Mounted  Riflemen." 

To  which  Fremont  replied : 

"  CivoAS  OB  L03  Anoslbs,  ApHl  15,  1847. 

"Sir:  I  am  in  receipt  of  your  letter  of  this  date,  and  in 
reply  have  the  honor  to  state  that  I  will  bold  myself  in  readi- 
ness for  a  meeting  at  Monterey,  at  such  time  as  you  may  desig- 
nate. 

"  I  am,  very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

"J.  C.  Fremoxt, 
"  Lieut.   Col.  Mounted  Riflemm. 
"Col.  R.  B.  Mason, 
"First  Dragoons,  Ciudad  de  los  Angeles." 


' 


'M 


'A 


I  1 


fr 


f  I 


ii 


■:il, 


208 


LIFE   AND   8EKVICi:8   OB^   JOHN   0.    FUKMoNT. 


The  duel  was  tliereby  adjourned  to  Monterey ;  but  no 
note  was  received  from  Mason  fixing  a  time. 

A  day  or  two  after  tliese  notes  })asse(l,  Col.  Mason  went 
to  jMonterey.  After  Mason  arrived  tliere,  Gen.  Kearney 
came  down  to  Los  Angeles,  and  had  a  conversation  with 
Col.  Fremont  on  the  subject  of  tlie  duel,  saying  he  forbade 
it,  and  had  left  an  order  at  Monterey  to  that  effect. 
Fremont  soon  followed  to  Monterey.  On  arriving  there, 
Capt.  Tyler,  an  intimate  of  Mason's,  called  on  Col. 
Fremont,  said  that  he  did  not  come  by  direction  of 
Mason,  that  he  had  talked  with  him  about  it,  that 
Mason  did  not  intend  to  insult  him,  &c.  Col.  Fremont 
paid  no  attention  to  this,  went  to  Mason's  quarters,  was 
invited  to  sit  down  but  did  not,  saying  that  he  came  to 
let  Mason  see  that  he  was  in  Monterey,  and  then  walked 
away. 

Soon  after  quitting  Mason's  quartera  an  order  from 
Gen.  Kearney  was  delivered  to  Col.  Fremont  by  the 
adjutant  general  in  these  words  : 


m 


i 


;, 


I.' 

i 

i 

^ 

1 

u 

i 

1 

1 

; 

!    !■ 


I  ,i: 


"  HBADQtTARTER3,  TEN  MiLE  DEPOT,  ) 

"  Monterey,  Cal.,  Jlay  4, 1847.  ) 

"Sir  :  It  Las  been  reported  here,  by  some  of  the  discharged 
men  of  the  battalion  of  California  volunteers,  just  arrived  from 
Pueblo  de  los  Angeles,  that  a  challenge  has  passed  between  Col. 
Mason,  of  the  1st  dragoons,  and  yourself,  the  meeting  to  take 
place  at  or  near  Monterey. 

"  As  I  am  about  leaving  here  for  the  South,  in  consequence  of 
rumors  of  an  excitement  among  tlie  people  in  that  district  of 
country,  it  becomes  my  duty  to  inform  you  that  the  good  of  the 
public  service,  the  necessity  of  preserving  tranquillity  in  Cali- 
fornia, imperiously  require  that  the  meeting  above  referred  to 
should  not  take  place  at  this  time,  and  in  this  country,  and  you 
are  hereby  officially  directed  by  me  to  proceed  no  further  in 
this  matter.  '      , 


TUE   MASON    DUEL. 


liUU 


but  no 

u  went 
earncy 
»n  with 
brbade 
eftcct. 
r  there, 
m   Coh 
;tion  of 
it,  that 
'rcinont 
31*8,  was 
came  to 
walked 

er  from 
;  by  the 


Depot, 
1, 1&17. 


ischaro-ed 
ved  from 
,veen  Col. 
to  take 

quence  of 
istrict  of 
od  of  the 

in  Cali- 
terred  to 

and  you 
urthev  in 


I 


"A  'similar  communication  lias  been  addressed  to  Colonel  Mason, 

« 

"  Very  respectfully, 

"Your  obedient  servant, 

"  S.  W.  Kearney,  Brigadier  General. 
"  Lientenant-Colonel  Fremont,  • 

"  Regiment  Mounted  Rifles,  Monterey." 

"  N.B. — A  letter  to  same  purport,  and  of  same  date,  addi'essed 
to  Col.  Mason." 

Soon  after  the  receipt  of  the  foregoing,  came  the 
following  letter  from  Mason  himself  to  Fremont. 

MoNTERKT,  May  19, 1847. 

"  Sir  :  The  affair  between  us  has  been  made  public  here  by 
the  arrival,  about  the  4th  instant,  of  some  of  the  discharged  men 
of  the  late  battalion  of  California  volunteers  from  Los  Angeles. 

"  I  did  not  expect  that  this  affair  would  have  gained  publicity 
until  it  had  finally  been  terminated,  but  it  has  turned  out 
otherwise.  The  result  is,  it  has  come  to  the  knowledge  of  the 
general,  and  you  doubtless  have  received,  as  well  as  myself,  a 
communication  from  him  upon  the  subject.  This  unforeseen  and 
unexpected  circumstance,  together  with  reasons  which  you  will 
find  in  the  copy  of  a  letter  on  the  next  page,  dated  on  the  4th 
of  the  present  month,  renders  it  proper  that  the  meeting  should 
be  postponed  to  some  future  time  and  place. 

"  I  am  inclined  to  believe  that,  under  the  existing  state  of 
things,  you  will  at  once  see  the  propriety  of  this  course. 
"  I  am,  respectfully, 

"  i  our  obedient  servant, 

"  R.  B.  Mason. 
"Lieut.  Col.  Fremont." 

The  letter  referred  to  by  Mason,  and  a  copy  of  which 
was  sent  with  his  own,  in  his  own  handwriting,  said  as  fol- 
lows : 


I  k'l 


i\- 


I 


1 1 


'WC 


M' 


I  ': 

.It'!' 

,  ■  111 

I 


210 


LIFK    AM)    SKItVICKS    OF   JOHN    C.    FliKMONT. 


V.  H.  8nrp  COI-lTMnUS.        J 

MoNTBBKV,  May  ith,  1S47.  f 

"Mv  DKAU  Colonel:  A  party  of  Californi.-ui  voluntoors, 
recently  utidor  Lieut,  Col.  Fremont,  have  just  firrivec!  on  tlieir 
wjiy  to  the  uortlj.  They  state  publicly  that  at  Pucbla  a  challeniife 
had  passed  botween  yourself  and  Lieut.  Col.  Fremont,  and  that 
on  the  arrival  of  the  latter  here,  a  hostile  meeting  would  take 
place.  I  learn  that  this  statement  is  generally  credited  on  shore. 
As  your  personal  friend,  and  the  friend  of  your  public  (diaraviter, 
this  statement  has  given  me  great  pain.  You  cannot  but  be  sen- 
sible that,  in  the  present  condition  of  things  in  California,  per- 
sonal collisions  between  the  officers  must  be  highly  injurious  to 
the  public  interest.  You  cannot  but  know  that  it  is  the  duty 
of  all  of  us  to  su})press  for  the  moment  every  angry  feeling  of  a 
personal  nature,  and  to  give  ourselves  zealously,  cordially,  and 
exclusively  to  the  public  service.  Permit  me  to  appeal  to  your 
patriotism,  and  to  your  sense  of  public  duty,  and  upon  these 
grounds  to  entreat  that  any  contemplated  hostile  meeting  may 
be  postponed.  Elsewhere,  and  at  another  time,  it  may  not  be 
improj)er,  but  there,  in  the  present  distracted  state  of  affairs,  it 
could  have  no  other  rr  udt  than  to  injure  the  public,  and  to 
injure  your  military  reputation. 

"  I  remain,  very  truly, 

"  Vour  friend,  &c., 

"James  Biddls. 
"  Col.  Mason,  U.  S.  Army,  Monterey." 

To  these  two  letters  CoL  Fremont  returned  this 
answer : 

"  Monterey,  May  22d,1847. 

"Sir:  I  have  the  honor  to  acknowledge  the  receipt,  on  yes- 
terday, of  your  note  of  the  19th  instant,  accompanied  by  a  copy 
of  a  letter  from  Commodore  Biddle  to  yourself. 

"The  object  of  your  note  appears  to  be  to  induce  me  to  con- 


4 


THE   MASON    DUEL. 


L>11 


nua. 


,  mi.  \ 
unteors, 
)n  their 
lalleniije 
ukI  tliat 
lid  take 
n  shore, 
laraijter, 
t  be  sen- 
nia,  per- 
ivious  to 
the  duty 
ing  of  a 
,lly,  and 
to  your 
on  these 
ting  may 
y  not  be 
iflfairs,  it 
and  to 


IDDLB. 


ed   this 


I 


sent  to  a  further,  and  indeliiiite  postponement  of  a  meeting.  If 
such  be  your  desire  I  am  willing  to  comply  with  it,  trusting  that 
you  will  apprise  me  of  the  earliest  moment  at  which  the  meet- 
ing can  take  place  consistently  with  your  convenience  and  sense 

of  propriety. 

"I  am  most  respectfully, 

"Your  obedient  servant, 

"John  C.  Fremont. 

"  Col.  R.  B.  Mason,  Monterey." 

MASON    TO    FREMONT. 

MosTRREY,  Cal.,  May  24, 1847. 

"  Sir  :  I  have  the  honor  to  acknowledge  the  receipt  of  your 
letter  of  the  22d  instant.  I  shall  certainly  promptly  inform  you 
when  the  peculiar  oilicial  obligations,  under  which  I  find  myself 
placed  in  this  country,  are  so  far  removed  as  to  enable  me  to 
r.eet  you. 

"  I  am,  respectfully, 

Your  obedient  servant, 

"R.  B.  Mason. 
"  Lieutenant-Colonel  J.  C.  Fremont,  U.  S.  A." 

The  following  letter  fi'om  Major  Reading  to  Colonel 
Fremont  at  Monterey,  immediately  after  this  second 
adjournment  took  place,  supplies  some  additional  de- 
tails.    It  ran  as  follows : 

MAJOR    READING    TO    COLONEL    FREMONT. 


I' 


\>\ 


22d,184T. 

on  yes- 
)y  a  copy 

e  to  con- 


"  MoNTKUKT,  Cal.,  3Iay  27, 1847. 

"Dear  Sir:  In  reply  to  your  favor  of  yesterday,  I  will  state 
that  immediately  after  having  delivered  your  challenge  to  Colo- 
nel Mason,  he  informed  me  that  he  would  give  you  the  desired 
meeting,  and  said  to  mc,  in  order  that  there  might  be  as  little 
delay  as  possible,  he  would  inform  me  (though  inforiiially)  that 


ri 
(i 


'if,   . 


1'    ' 


^ 


U     ) 


I 
I 


III 


212 


LIFE    AND    8EUVICE8   OF   JOUN    C.    FKKMuNT. 


lie  would  select  (louMo-barrolIod  sliot-rruns  as  the  weapons  to  be 
used  on  the  occasion.  I  replied  to  him  at  once  that  I  should 
lose  no  time  in  ohtaininf]^  such  a  weapon  for  Colonel  Fremont — 
tliat  in  the  morning  1  should  have  hitn  provided  with  a  good 
gun.  AVlicn  T  <k'livered  the  challenge  to  Colonel  Mason,  it  was 
about  eight  r>'clock  in  the  eveiung,  though  you  received  this 
written  acceptance,  tlirough  his  friend  (,-aptain  Smith,  near  noon 
the  following  day,  in  which  he  projiosed  that  the  meeting  should 
take  place  at  Monterey,  distant  from  tlie  Puebla  de  los  Angeles 
about  four  miles.  This  gave  us  (!cnsidcrable  surprise,  as  wo 
expected  and  were  fully  prepared  to  have  taken  the  field  that 
day — forndng  our  opinions  from  the  character  of  his  conversa- 
tion to  me  the  preceding  evening. 

"  Since  that  period,  your  correspondence  with  Colonel  Mason 
contains  the  liistory  of  this  affair. 

"  I  am,  most  respectfully,  your  very  obedient  servant, 

"R.  B.  Kradino. 

"  Lieutenant-Colonel  J.  C.  Fremont,  U.  S.  A." 

It  was  tlio  opinion  of  Col.  Benton,  and  lie  so  publicly 
expressed  himself  in  the  Senate,  that  the  three  letters 
of  Biddle,  Kearney,  and  Mason,  were  collusive,  got  up 
in  concert  among  them,  and  all  looking  to  the  extrica- 
tion of  Mason,  and  not  to  tho  laws  of  honor,  or  of  mar- 
tial or  municipal  law,  or  common  humanity;  all  of 
which  would  have  required  two  of  the  concern  (Biddle 
and  Kearney)  to  have  used  their  official  authority  and 
their  personal  influence  to  have  put  an  end  to  so  savage 
a  duel.  Kearney's  conduct  in  adjourning  and  licensing 
the  duel — for  in  his  order  he  did  both — was  particularly 
exceptionable,  for  by  the  2Gth  of  the  rules  and  articles 
of  war,  it  is  made  "  the  duty  of  every  officer  command- 
ing an  army,  regiment,  post,  or  detachment,  who  is 
knowing  to  a  challenge  being  given  or  accepted  by  any 


THE    MASON    DUEL. 


'213 


ons  to  be 
I  should 
reinont — 
ih  a  good 
i>ii,  it  was 
jivetl  this 
near  noon 
\vf  should 
IS  Angeles 
ise,  as  wo 
tield  that 
i  conversa- 

)nel  Mason 

It, 

lEADINO. 


publicly 
ec  letters 
re,  got  up 
extrica- 
31*  of  mar- 


y; 


all  of 


•n  (Biddle 
lority  and 
so  savage 

licensing 
rticularly 

d  articles 
iommand- 
t,  who  is 
ed  by  any 


N 


oflicor,  non-cominissioned  oflicor,  or  soldier,  nndor  liia 
(•(muMand,  or  lias  reason  to  l)L'iievo  the  isanie  to  be  the 
case,   fnu/irdidttit/  to  arrest   and  brimj   to  trial  such 

iS'ot  hi  tig  further  was  heard  from  Mr.  ^fason  for  over 
three  years.  Soon  after  the  events  just  recited.  Col. 
Fremont  was  sent  liome  by  Gen.  Kearney  under  arrest. 
In  tlu!  fall  of  the  following  year  he  returned  overland 
to  California,  and  as  he  entered  the  territory  from  the 
east,  Col.  Mason  left  by  a  steamer  from  the  west,  for 
the  United  States.  In  1^50  Freniitnt  went  to  Washingtoti 
lus  United  States  senator.  Just  at  the  close  of  the  ses- 
sion, and  when  he  was  about  starting  again  with  his 
family  for  California,  he  received  a  note  from  Col.  Ma- 
son— the  first  since  that  of  May,  1847 — informing  him 
tliat  if  he  would  come  out  to  St.  Louis  (where  JNIason 
was  then  residing)  he  should  have  the  satisfaction  which 
he  (Mason)  had  promised  him  just  three  years  and  a- 
half  before.  Of  course  Col.  Fremont  paid  no  attention 
to  the  letter.  lie  sailed  in  a  few  days  for  Califonua, 
whither  the  intelligence  not  long  after  followed,  of  Col. 
Mason's  dea^h. 

We  will  now  resume  the  thread  of  our  narrative. 

General  Kearney  broke  up  his  camp  near  Sutter's 
fort  on  the  day  after  issuing  the  order  of  the  l-ith 
of  June,  and  set  out  for  the  United  States,  attended 
by  Col.  Fremont,  who  was  treated,  however,  with 
deliberate  disrespect  throughout  the  journey.  The 
party  reached  Fort  Leavenworth  about  the  22d  of 
August.  On  that  day  General  Kearney  sent  for  him, 
and  directed  Lieut.  Wharton  to  read  to  him  a  copy  of 
the  first  paragraph  of  an  order  he  had  just  issued  of 
that  date,  as  foUows : 


ill 


^] 


(TT^- 


1 

•    ■ 

i      1 

I  m 


214 


UFK    AND    SKIiVICKS    OF    JOTTN    C.    FUKMONT. 


"KOKT   I.BAVICNWdUTII,    AllJUxt  'i2if,\^7. 

"Lieutenant  Co\.  I^'reiixMil,  of  the  ren-itueiit  of  inoimted  rillo- 
lueii,  will  turn  over  to  tlu*  oHieers  t)|'  lli(>  <lill'ereiil.  <le|).'irl,iiii'iit8 
at.  this  post,  file  horsc^s,  iniiles,  and  other  public  j)roperty  in  the 
use  of  the  topoirraphical  party  now  under  his  eliarire,  lor  wliicli 
receipts  will  he  t>iven.  Ho  will  arranujii  the  accouiits  of  iheso 
men  (nineteen  in  number)  so  tJiat  thoy  can  ho  ])aid  at  the 
earliest  possible  dato.  LieuttMiant  Colonol  Fremont  having 
performed  the  above  duty  will  consider  himself  under  arrest., 
and  will  then  re})air  to  Washinulon  City  and  re})ort  liimsolf  to 
tlie  Adjutant  <leneral  of  the  Army."        *  * 


* 


Thus,  liko  Columbus,  Col.  Fivniont  ro.tunicd  tVoin  llie 
(lisc'ovorv  uud  couquest  of  u  New  Worhl  beyond  tlie 
Ivocky  .M'.Mniliiitis,  ji  ]>risonor  and  in  disgrace.  Like 
Columbus  his  aehievements  and  rji[)id  promotion,  had 
awakened  the  jealousy  of  certain  sordid  hearts  and  nar- 
row minds,  and  like  Columbus,  instead  of  beiuijj  permitted 
to  continue  his  researches  in  the  vast  re^jion  which  he  had 
iirst  brought  within  the  reach  of  science,  he  was  required 
to  come  home  and  defend  himself  from  the  attacks  of 
men  who  had  just  sense  enough  to  envy  his  successes 
■without  the  ability  to  achieve  them. 

Col.  Fremont  repaired  at  once  to  Washington,  where 
he  arrived  on  or  about  the  lOth  of  September,  llis 
journey  led  him  through  St.  Louis,  the  iirst  city  that  he 
entered  upon  his  return  to  his  native  country  after  a 
most  eventfid  absence  of  nearly  two  years.  The  history 
of  his  brilliant  achievements  had  preceded  him,  and  the 
reception  wliich  he  met  with,  conq^ensated  him  to  some 
extent  for  the  indignities  to  which  he  had  been  sub- 
jected in  his  tediitus  journey  over  the  plains  from 
California.  lie  was  immediately  addressed  by  a  large 
number  of  the  most  respectable  citizens  of  St.  Louis, 


H 


nil,  i^iT. 
itcd  ritlo- 

•ly  in  tlie 
for  which 
of  tlu'so 
a  !vt  the 
t  having 
or  arrest, 
linisclf  to 


from  llie 
yoiul  tlie 
c.     Like 
tion,  luid 
and  iKir- 
pcniutted 
oh  he  had 
rc([nired 
tacks  of 
Buccesses 

)n,  where 
)er.     His 
y  that  he 
y  after  a 
le  history 
,  and  the 
11  to  some 
3een  sub- 
lins   from 
y  a  hirge 
^t.  Louis, 


RK0KI»'riON    AT   ST.    LOUIS. 


215 


who,  after  coii^j-rahilaliiiir  1 


rccapihilatiiii!^ 


his  c\\ 


<jj  Jiini  upon  jiis  salt;  arnv 


ifc 


aiK 


1 


u 


ins  lo  public  a<liniration,  tcndcnMl 


inn  an  invilatn)!i  [<>  a  piiljh'c,  dinner,  as  a  loken  of  tlicir 


estoiMii    and 


1.      Ill 


'lied    hv    til 


t 


^sroeni    ano    n^^^aro.      ik^    was    tonclicd    ny   iius   inos 
seasonable   evidence   of  undiminished  eonlidence,  and 
immediately  addressed  them  the  followini^  rei)ly  : 

LKTTEK   FIIOM    001-.   FKKMONT  TO  TlIK   CMTIZICNS   OK  HI'.   LOUIS. 


"St.  Louih,  AiignHt'.V)lh,\m. 

"GrcNTi.KMKN :  T  had  the  ])](!asnro  this  nioniiiii^  to  reeeive 
vour  kMler  of  tjiis  date,  in  which,  with  many  kind  as.siiraiic<'H  of 
welcome  and  connr;it illations  on  my  return,  yon  hotior  with  tlio 
stronsjr  (ixjiression  of  your  approbation,  my  |M^eo<4ra])hical  labors 
diirini;  the  recent  explorations  in  Oreo-on  and  North  (Jalilbrnia, 
and  the  military  o|)('ratioii»  in  which  sudden  emergencies 
involved  me  in  California. 

"  I  beg  von  to  receive  mv  e;irncst  acknowhido-ments  for  the 
very  favorable  notice  you  liav<i  bestowed  upon  the  published 
results  of  those  expeditions,  and  I  regret  that  (ivents  whi(-h  intor- 
nipted,  and  mor(^  recent  eirciimstances  which  abruptly  termi- 
nated the  last  exploration,  will  permit  uio  to  t>ive  only  a  l)rief 
and  imperfect  account  of  California,  and  of  the  intervening 
basin,  whii^li  it  had  been  the  great  object  of  the  expedition  to 
explore  and  determine.   , 

"  The  labor  of  many  years  in  the  interest  of  science,  under- 
taken and  sustained  with  only  a  distant  hoj)e  of  gaining  your 
good  opinion,  has  received,  in  the  raj)id  protrress  of  events,  an 
earlier  reward  than  I  could  possibly  have  hoped  for  or  antici- 
pated ;  but  I  am  free  to  say  that  the  highest  pleasure  I  received 
from  the  pe.usal  of  your  letter,  was  <lerived  from  your  decided 
approval  of  my  political  course  in  North  California.  Circum- 
stances there  made  us,  in  connection  with  the  emigrants  to  that 
country,  involuntary  witnesses,  and  unwilling  actors  at  die  birth 
of  a  great   nation,  but  to  which  we  now  consid(!r  it  our  great 


v-l 


i;;'i:  i 


210 


LIFK   AND   SERVICES   OF   JOHN   C.    FREMONT. 


good   fortune  to  liave  aided  in  securing  the  blessings  of  peace 
with  civil  and  religious  liberty. 

"IMaced  in  a  critical  and  delicate  position,  where  imminent 
danger  urged  iinmodiate  action,  and  where  the  principal  ditli- 
culty  lay  in  knowing  full  well  what  must  be  done ;  where  in  a 
struggle  barely  for  the  right  to  live,  every  etTort  to  secure  our 
safety  involved  unusual  and  grave  re^sponsibilities,  I  could  only 
hope  from  your  forbearance  a  suspension  of  judgment  until,  with 
full  possession  of  facts,  you  would  be  able  to  determine  under- 
stand ingly. 

"I  had  the  gratificration,  on  my  arrival,  to  find  tliat  neither 
remoteness  of  situation,  nor  the   more  immediately  important 
and  interesting  events  at  liome,  had  diverted  your  attention  (roin 
our  conduct,  but  from  a  knowledge  only  of  the  leading  occur 
rences  in  California,  it  had  been  fully  justified  and  sustained. 

"I  regret  that,  under  present  circumstances,  I  cannot  have  the 
pleasure  of  nieeting  you  at  the  dinner  you  have  done  me  the 
honor  to  oft'er  me,  but  T  beg  you  to  accept  the  assurances  of  the 
high  and  grateful  sense  which  I  entertain  of  your  kindness  and 
regard,  and  the  very  flattering  manner  in  which  you  have 
expressed  it. 

"  With  sentiments  of  respect  and  consideration,  I  am,  gentle- 
men, your  very  obedient  servant, 

"J.    C.    FUEMONT." 


r  peace 

iminent 
al  ditli- 
ere  in  a 
uro  our 
lid  only 
til,  with 
B  under- 

neitlier 
npovtant 
ion  from 
I  or  occur 
ined. 
have  the 
Q  me  the 
es  of  the 
ness  and 
ou  have 

1,  gentle- 

lOST." 


•ntlAL   BY    A   COURT   MARTIAL. 


217 


CHAPTER    X. 

Fremont  arrives  at  Washington — demands  a  court  mar- 
tial  ILLNESS  AND  DEATH  OF  HIS  MOTHER COURT  MAR- 
TIAL   ORDERED ITS  ORGANIZATION    AND   PROGRESS — FRE- 

MONt's      defence VERDICT     OF     THE     COURT — SliNTENCl-: 

REMITTED    BY    THE    PRESIDENT RESIGNS    HIS    COMMISSION 

AND  RETIRES  FROM  THE  ARMY. 

The  fame  of  Col.  Fremont's  arrest  preceded  liiiii 
across  the  Allegliaines,  and  some  days  before  liis  arrival 
at  Washington,  had  penetrated  the  seclusion  of  his 
widowed  mother's  home  at  Aiken,  in  South  Carolina. 
Her  heart  had  not  been  properly  prepared  for  such  tid- 
ings, and  the  pleasure  which  he  naturally  expected  from 
rejoining  his  family  was  destined  to  be  qualiiied  by  one 
ol:'  the  severest  trials  he  had  yet  known,  lie  found  let- 
ters at  Washington  informing  him  that  his  mother  was 
dangerously  ill.  Without  delay,  he  asked  for  leave  of 
absence  to  join  her,  and  it  was  granted  on  the  following 
day ;  but  before  availing  himself  of  it,  he  addressed  the 
following  manly  letter  to  the  adjutant  general,  iu  i*ela- 
tion  to  his  position  in  the  service : 

LETTER  FROM  COL.  FREMONT  TO  THE  ADJUTANT  GENERAL. 

C  Strebt,  WASHiNQToy,  Sept.  Ilth,  1347. 

To  THE  Adjutant  General  : 

"  Siu :    According  to  the  orders  of  Brigadier  General  Kearney, 

10 


1 1   .■? 

"i 

1 


! 


Ilfi  If] 


1  ■ 


!  1 


If!, 


218 


LTFr.    AND    SERVICKS    OF   JOHN    C,    FWKMONT. 


I  have  tlio  honor  to  roport  niysolfto  you  in  person,  in  a  state  of 
arrest,  ;ui<l  to  ni:ike  the  lbllo\viii_<>;  re(jiie.sts: 

"  1.  A  copy  of  the  iharjj^es  filed  a<(;iiiist  nie  hy  the  said 
gen.M'ah 

"  2.  A  copy  of  tlie  orch'rs  under  whicli  the  said  tjeneral 
brought  hack  tVoni  Cyalitornia  to  the  United  States  niysolf  and 
the  topoLjraphical  ]iaity  of  which  I  had  the  coniniand. 

"3.  A  copy  of  the  coniunmications  from  Senator  iJenton,  ask- 
ing for  my  arrest  and  t'ial  on  the  charges  tna(h^  in  tlie  newspaper' 
against  me,  and  which  application  from  him  1  a(h)pt  anu  make 
my  own. 

"  4,  That  cliargea  and  specitications,  in  addition  to  tliose  filed 
l>v  CJenei'.'d  Kearney,  ho  made  out  in  form  against  me,  on  all 
the  ne\\>jMper  publications  which  Ijave  tomo  or  shall  come  to 
the  ollice,  oial  or  written. 

"  5.  That  I  may  have  a  trial  as  soon  as  tlie  witnesses  now  in 
the  Uniteti  Suites  can  be  got  to  Washington ;  for,  althouLjli  the 
testimony  of  the  voice  of  Califoi'iiia,  throufrh  some  of  its  most 
respectable  inhabitants,  is  essential  to  me,  and  also  that  of  Com- 
modore Stockton,  who  lias  not  yet  arrived  from  that  province, 
yet  1  will  Jiot  wish  the  delay  of  waiting  for  these  far  distant  wit- 
nesses, and  will  go  into  trial  on  the  testimony  now  in  the  United 
States,  jiart  of  which  is  in  the  State  of  Missouri,  and  may 
requiie  thirty  days  to  get  into  Washington.  I  therefore  ask  for 
a  trial  at  the  end  of  that  time. 

"These  reijuests  1  have  the  honor  to  make,  and  hope  they 
will  be  lound  to  be  just,  and  will  be  granted.  I  wish  a f"ull  trial, 
and  a  speedy  one.  The  charges  against  me  by  Brigadier  Gene- 
ral Kearney,  and  the  subsidiary  a"cusations  made  against  me  in 
newspapers,  when  I  was  not  in  this  country,  impeach  me  in  all 
the  de]iartments  of  my  conduct  (military,  civil,  poliiical,  and 
moral),  while  in  California,  and,  if  true,  would  subject  me  to  be 
cashiered  and  shot,  under  the  rules  and  articles  of  war,  and  to 
intainy  in  the  public  opinion. 

"It  is  my  intention  to  meet  these  charges  in  all  their  extent 


ito  of 
Q  said 
roncral 

on,  ask- 

L  iniiko 

osc  ftlccl 

ic,  on  ull 

come  to 

9  now  in 

ougH  the 
its  most 

t  of  Corn- 
province, 

istant  wit- 
le  United 
and   may 
re  ask  for 

hope  they 

a  full  trial, 

Idii-r  Gene- 

lainst  me  in 

uie  in  all 

lluieal,  and 

I't  me  to  be 

Lav,  and  to 

Itheir  extent 


Demands  a  court  mautial. 


210 


nnrl  for  that  purpose  to  ask  a  trial  u|)oti  every  \)o\ui  of  ?ill('L;Tition 
or  iii;sinii.itioii  a^'ainst  mo,  \v;n'vin<j^  all  olijcctidiis  lo  I'oinis  and 
tec'linicalilics,  aiui  aliowiiig  the  widc-t  rarin-c  lu  all  possihlc  Ivsii- 
nioiiy. 

"  These  chariji'cs  and  a<'('nsations  are  so  numeral  and  oxtcnsivo 
as  to  ('o\er  the  whole  field  of  my  operations  in  California,  holli 
civil  and  military,  from  the  hcginninfif  to  the  end  of  hostililics; 
and  as  my  opei-ations,  and  those  of  which  T  was  the  subject  or 
object,  extend  to  almost  every  act  and  event  which  fx-curred 
in  the  country  during  the  eventful  period  of  those  hostilities,  the 
testimony  on  my  trial  wil'  be  the  history  of  the  coiKpiest  of 
California,  and  the  exposition  of  the  policy  \vhi(di  has  been  here- 
tofore pursued  there,  and  the  elucidation  of  that  which  siioidd 
be  followed  hereafter.  It  will  be  tlie  means  of  giving  valuable 
information  to  the  government,  whicli  it  might  not  otherwise  be 
able  to  obtain,  and  thus  enlighten  it,  both  with  re:;j>ect  to  the 
past  and  the  future.  ]^eing  a  military  subordinate,  1  can  make 
no  report,  not  even  of  my  own  operations;  but  my  trial  may 
become  a  report,  and  biing  to  the  knowledge  of  the  goverument 
what  it  ought  to  know,  not  only  with  respe(;t  to  the  conduct  of 
its  officers,  but  also  in  regard  to  the  policy  observed,  or  necessary 
to  be  observed,  with  regard  to  the  three-fold  population  (Spanish, 
Americans,  Anglo-Americans,  and  Aboriginal-Americans),  which 
that  remote  province  contains.  Viewed  under  these  aspects  of 
public  interests,  my  own  personal  concern  in  the  tiial — already 
sufficiently  grave — acquires  an  additional  and  publi(-  importance  ; 
and  for  these  high  objects,  as  well  as  to  vindicate  my  own  cha- 
racter from  accusations  both  capital  and  infamous,  it  is  my 
intention  to  require  and  to  promote  the  most  searching  exami- 
nation into  everything  that  has  been  done  in  that  quarter. 

*■  The  public  mind  has  become  impressed  with  the  belief 
that  great  misconduct  has  prevailed  in  California ;  and,  in  fact, 
it  would  be  something  rare  in  the  history  of  remote  conquests 
and  governments,  where  every  petty  commander  might  feel 
himself  invested  with  proconsulate  authority,  and  protected  by 
distance  from    the  supervision  of  liis  government,    if   nothing 


m 


i 


^   % 


\:i 


4 


h     :,al 


I 


220 


LIFE    AND   SERVICES   OF  JOHN    C.    I'EEMONT. 


if'' 


\vron^r  or  culpable  lias  been  done  by  the  public  agents  of  the 
rnik'ti  States  in  that  remote  province.  The  public  believes 
il,  au<J  the  charfros  filed  against  nie  by  Brigadier  General  Ke.ar- 
licy — I  he  subsidiary  publications  made  against  me  whilst  I  was 
not  in  the  country — my  arrest  on  the  fiontier,  and  the  ])remoni- 
tory  rumor  of  that  event — the  manner  of  my  being  brought 
lioine  for  trial,  not  in  irons,  as  some  newpapers  suppose,  but  in 
chains  stronger  than  iron,  and  with  circumstances  of  ostentation 
and  galling  degradation — have  all  combined  to  present  me  as 
the  great  malefactor,  and  the  sole  one.  IJeretofore  1  have  said 
nothing,  and  could  liave  said  nothing  in  my  own  defence.  I  was 
ignorant  of  all  that  was  going  on  against  me  ;  ignorant  of  the 
charges  sent  from  California ;  ignorant  of  the  intended  arrest, 
and  of  the  subsidary  publications  to  prejudice  the  public  mind. 
What  was  published  in  the  United  States  in  my  favor,  by  my 
friends,  was  done  upon  their  own  views  of  things  here,  and  of 
which  I  knew  nothing.  It  was  only  on  my  arrival  at  the  fron- 
tiers of  the  United  States,  that  I  became  acquainted  with  theso 
things,  vvhidi  conceined  me  so  rearly.  Brought  home  by 
General  Kearney,  and  marched  in  his  rear,  T  did  not  know  of  his 
design  to  arrest  me  until  the  moment  of  its  execution  at  Fort 
Leavenworth.  lie  then  informed  me  that,  among  the  charges  lie 
had  preferred,  were  mutiny,  disobedience  of  orders,  assumption 
of  powers,  (tc,  and  referred  me  to  your  office  for  particulars. 
Accordingly  I  now  apply  for  them,  and  ask  for  a  full  and  speedy 
trial,  not  only  on  the  charges  filed  by  the  said  general,  but  on 
all  accusations  contained  in  i!ie  publications  against  me. 

"The  private  calamity  which  has  this  evening  obtained  for 
me  permission  from  the  Department  to  visit  South  Carolina, 
does  not  create  any  reason  for  postponement  or  delay  of  the 
trial,  or  in  any  way  interfere  with  the  necessary  preliminaries. 
Hoping,  ..icn,  sir,  that  you  will  obtain  and  communicate  to  rue 
an  early  decision  of  the  proper  authorities  on  these  requests. 
"  I  remain  your  obedient  servant,        John  C.  Fremont. 

''Lieut.  Col,  Mounted Rijies:^ 

IJuviiii::  (lispiitclicd  this  lettiM*,  C<d.  Fremont  set  out 


!'i;i 


DEATH    OF    HIS   MOTHER. 


221 


of  the 

jlieves 

Koar- 

,  I  was 

emoui- 

rought 

but,  in 

ntatiou 

t  iiKi  us 

ive  said 

I  was 

of  tho 

.  arrest, 

c  mind. 

,  by  my 

and  of 

he  fron- 

th  theso 

ome   by 

>w  of  his 
at  Fort 

arges  he 

uraption 
ticulars. 
speedy 
but  on 

ained  for 
Carolina, 
y  of  the 
ininaries. 
e  to  me 
quests. 

MONT. 

set  out 


at  once  for  the  bedside  of  his  mother.  lie  did  not 
arrive  ut  Washington  until  Tiinrsday,  the  lOtli  of 
September.  On  the  following  Monday  he  was  in 
Charleston.  The  nielanelioly  issne  of  liis  visit  "was 
briefly  tohl  in  the  following  paragrap)!!  whieh  appeared 
in  the  Charleston  Mercury  of  Sept.  21 : 

"  We  regret  to  learn  that  Col.  Fremont  did  not  reach  Aiken 
to  see  his  mother  alive.  She  died  but  a  few  hours  before  his 
arrival.  He  accompanied  her  remains  the  next  day  to  Charles- 
ton, and,  after  witnessing  the  last  sad  rites,  left  the  evening 
following  on  his  return  to  Washington.  In  his  affliction, 
rendered  doubly  poignant  by  his  deep  disappointment  in  not 
receiving  her  parting  look  of  recognition  after  his  long  and 
eventful  absence,  he  has  the  sympathy  of  our  entire  community. 

"The  marked  and  brilliant  career  of  Col.  Fremont,  has 
arrested  general  attention  and  admiration,  and  has  been  watched 
with  lively  interest  by  his  fellow  citizens  of  South  Carolina. 
Charleston  particularly  is  proud  of  him  and  the  reputation  which 
he  has  at  so  early  an  age  achieved  for  himself.  She  claims  as 
something  in  which  she  too  has  a  share.  But  for  the  melan- 
choly  circumstance  a:tending  his  visit,  our  city  would  have 
manifested  by  suitable  demonstration  their  respect  for  him,  and 
their  continued  confidence  in  his  honor  and  inteijritv.  It  will 
require  something  more  than  mere  accusation  to  sully  them  in 
the  minds  of  the  people  of  Charleston.  Some  months  since  a 
sword  was  voted  ^o  him  by  our  citizens,  the  individual  sub- 
scriptions to  which  were  limited  to  $1  ;  it  now  awaits  his  accep- 
tance at  a  suitable  opportunity.  We  are  happy  to  learn  that  the 
ladies  of  Charleston  propose,  by  a  similar  subscription,  to  furnish 
an  appropi'iate  belt  to  accompany  the  sword,  an  evidence  that 
they  too  can  appreciate  the  gallantry  and  heroism  which  have 
so  signally  marked  his  career,  and  have  thrown  an  air  of 
romance  over  the  usually  dry  detail  of  scientific  pursuits."* 

*  The  sword  and  belt  referred  to  in  the  foregoing  piir.igraph  were  pre- 
emtcd  to  Col  Fremont  soon  after  the  opening  of  Congress  by  one  of  the 


i   J?   I 


': 


!i 


I    H 


I    4 


IT 


LIFE   AXD   SERVICES   OF   JOHN   C.    FliEMONT. 


In  compliance  witli  Col.  Fremont's  request  for  a 
speedy  trial,  a  General  Court  Alartial,  to  consist  of 
thirteen  members,  was  ordered  to  as-iemLle  on  the 
2d  of  Kovcmber,  at  Fort  Monroe,  in  Virginia,  which 
place  afterwards,  upon  application  of  tlie  accused,  was 
changed  to  the  arsenal  at  Washington  City,  and  the  fol- 
lowing officers  were  detailed  to  hold  the  court : 


im 


Brevet  Brigadier-General  G.  M.  Biiooke,  Colonel  5th  Infantry^ 

Colonel  S.  Cjii;rciiill,  Inxpcctor  General, 

Colonel  J.  B.  Crane,  \st  Artillert/, 

Brevet  Colonel  M.  M.  Paynk,  4lh  Artilleri/, 

Brevet  Colonel  S.  If.  Lonu,  Corps  of  Tojtoyr<tphlcal  KiujincerSy 

Lieutenant-Colonel  R.  E.  D.  Russky,  Corps  of  Ji^nf/lneem, 

Lieiitentint-Colonel  J.  P.  Taylor,  Subfiistence  Departtncnt, 

Brevet  Lieutenunt-Colonel  H,  K.  Craig,  Ordnance  Department,, 

Major  R.  S.  Baker,  Ordnance  Department, 

Major  J.  D,  Graham,  Corps  of  Topographical  Engineers, 

representatives  from  South  Carolina.  The  .sword  was  a  .splendid  piece  ot 
workinan.ship,  silver  and  gold  mounted.  Tlie  head  of  the  hilt,  around 
which  is  coiled  a  rattlesnake  belonging  to  the  old  arms  of  the  State,  is 
formed  to  represent  the  sunmiit  of  the  Palmetto  tree.  On  the  guard  is  a 
map,  with  the  word  "  Oregon,"  partly  unrolled,  to  display  the  coast  of 
the  Pacific  Ocean.  On  the  scabbard,  which  is  gold,  are  two  silver  shields 
hung  together,  with  the  words  "  California"  and  "  1840,"  respectively. 
Below  thena  is  the  following  inscription  : 

BY  TIIECITIZKNS  OP  CHARLESTON, 
TO  LIEUTENANT-COLONEL 

JOHN     CHARLES     FREMONT. 

A  MEMOm.\L  OP  THEHl  HIGH  API'aEClATION 

0"?  THE  GALLANTRY  AND  SCIENCE 

HE  HAS  Dl.SPLAYED  IN  HIS 

SERVICES  IN  OREGON  AND  CALIPORNIA. 

Still  lower  down  on'the  scabbard  is  a  representation  of  a  buffalo  hunt. 

And  elegant  and  costly  gold-mounted  belt,  having  the  present  arms  of 
the  State  on  its  clasp,  presented  by  the  Ladies  of  Charlesto.v,  accom- 
panied the  sword. 


TIIK   COUUT   MARTIAL. 


223 


Major  R.  Delakikm),  Corps  of  Engineers, 

Urtjvot  Major  (J.  A.  McCall,  Assistant  A(ljufant-(h'noral,  afterwards 
cxciisoil  on  account  of  ill  hoiiltli,  ami  Colonel  T.  F.  Hunt,  Deputy 
Qufirttr  MaHtr  (/'eucral,  appointed  in  his  place, 

Major  F.  W.  Moiujan,  l\tU  Infantry. 

Capt.  Jolin  F.  Lee,  of  the  Ordntinco  Department,  was 
appointed  judge  advocate  of  tlie  court,  and  Col.  Tlioa. 
U.  JJenton,  father-in-law,  and  Wm.  Carey  Jones, 
brother-in-law  of  the  accused,  were  selected  to  conduct 
the  defence. 

The  charffes  acrainst  him  were  three  in  number. 
1.  Mutiny'.  2.  Disobediencp:  of  the  Lawful  Command 
OF  A  Superior  Officer,  and  3.  Conduct  to  tue  Pkeju- 
DicE  OF  Good  Order  and  Military  Discipline. 

The  trial  commenced  on  the  2d  day  of  November, 
IS-iT,  and  concluded  on  the  31st  of  January,  1848, 
when  a  rerdict  of  guilty  was  brought  in  on  each  of  the 
charges,  and  Col.  Fremont  was  sentenced  to  be  dis- 
missed from  the  service. 

The  interest  of  this,  probably  the  most  memorable  mili- 
tary trial  ever  held  in  the  United  States,  has  long  since 
passed  away.  Tlie  principal  prosecutor  was  called  to 
his  last  account  a  few  weeks  after  the  trial  closed,  and 
there  are  few,  if  any,  left  who  caie  now  to  inquire  into 
the  motives  which  actuated  him  in  the  course  he  chose 
to  pursue  towards  his  gallant  subordinate.  The  general 
tenor  of  the  controversy  has  been  disclosed  in  the 
preceding  pages.  Such  additional  information  as  may 
be  requisite  to  an  appreciation  of  Col.  Fremont'* 
motives  in  tiie  delicate  situation  in  which  he  was 
placed  between  the  rival  commanders,  may  be  found 
in  the  masterly  defence  which  he  read  to  the  court,  and 
wliich  we  now  submit  to  the  reader  with  entire  con- 
fidence, that  whatever  may  be  his  judgment  as  to  the 


H 


IS.  ii       u 


224 


LIFE    AND    SERVICES    OF   JOHN    C.    FREMONT. 


If, 


1      Ml 


ill 


jM 


techiiiciil  i)ropricty  of  the  verdict,  he  will  be  constrained 
to  admit,  that  hud  Fremont  omitted  to  cooperate  witli 
(Stockton  when  and  as  he  did,  or  had  he  abandoned  him 
afterwards,  as  General  Kearney  directed  him  to  do,  and 
when  his  abandonment  mi<^ht  have  been  constrned  into 
a  condemnation  of  a  coarse  of  action  which  he  not  only- 
approved  but  advised,  he  would  have  justly  forfeited, 
not  only  his  own  self-respect,  but  that  generous  public 
sympathy  which  actually  stripped  the  verdict  cf  all 
its  terrors,  even  before  it  reached  him. 

DEFENCE    OF    LIEUT.    COL.    FKEMONT. 


"  Mr.  Presiuent  :  Tlie  crimes  with  which  I  stand  clijxrged 
are,  1.  Mutixv.  2.  Disobedience  of  orders.  3.  Conduct 
prejudicial  to  good  order  and  discipline.  Either  of  these 
would  be  sufficiently  grave  in  itself;  united,  they  become  an 
assemblage  of  crimes  probably  never  before  presented  against 
an  American  officer.  They  descend  from  the  top  to  the  bottom 
of  the  militaiy  gradation  of  crime  ;  from  that  which  is  capital 
and  infamous,  to  what  involves  but  little  of  disgrace  or  punish- 
ment ;  but  from  the  whole  of  which  it  becomes  me  to  defend 
mysnif,  and  from  each,  in  its  order,  according  to  the  degree  of 
its  enormity. 

"The  crime  of  mutiny  stands  at  the  head  of  military  oflences, 
and,  in  this  case,  is  presented  with  all  the  aggravations  of  which 
it  is  susceptible ;  rank  in  the  ofiender — time  of  war — in  a  for- 
eign country — base  and  sordid  motive — willful  persistence. 

"  It  is  the  most  dangerous  of  military  crimes,  and,  therefore, 
the  most  summarily  and  severely  punished.  Any  officer  present 
at  a  mutiny  becomes  the  judge  and  punisher  of  the  otfence  upon 
the  instant,  and  may  kill  the  mutineer  upon  the  spot,  without 
trial  or  warning.  More  than  that,  he  becomes  a  great  otleiuler 
himself  if  he  does  not  do  his  utmost  to  suppress  the  mutiny 
which  he  witnesses,  and  may  be  punished  with  death,  or  such 


i 


THE  DEFIONCE. 


225 


otlior  pimislimont  as  a  f-ourt-martial  may  award.  Tt  is  the  only 
case  in  which  doath  mav  be  iiitlicte*!  without  trial  ;  in  all  otlior 
cases,  the  siipposeil  otrciider  is  piTsuniod  to  In-  innocent  until  ho 
is  (;onvicted,  ami  (.-annot  ho  jmnished  until  ho  has  boon  tried. 

"  Of  this  great  crime,  with  all  the  aufo^ravatiuns  of  which  it  is 
susceptible,  I  am  charc^ed  to  have  been  ufuilty,  and  continuously 
BO,  from  the  17th  day  of  January,  1847,  to  the  0th  day  of  May 
following,  both  days  inclusive  ;  during  all  wliich  time  I  was 
liable  to  have  been  killed  by  any  ofhcer  present  who  believed 
nie  guilty.  I  was  not  killed  ;  but  am  now  here  to  be  tried,  and 
with  the  presumption  of  guilt  against  me  from  the  fact  of  being 
ordered  to  be  tried. 

"  The  order  to  put  an  officer  upon  trial  is  a  declaration,  virtu- 
ally 80,  on  the  part  of  the  high  authority  giving  the  order,  of 
probable  guilt.  It  is  equivalent  to  the  '  true  hiW  endorsed  by 
the  grand  jury  on  the  bill  of  indictment ;  and,  in  this  case,  is 
equivalent  to  three  such  endorsements  on  three  separate  bills, 
for  three  several  crimes;  for  the  order  for  my  trial  extends  to 
the  three  ditlerent  charges  upon  which  I  am  arraigned,  and  with 
the  trial  of  the  whole  of  which  this  court  is  charged. 

*'  utiny  is  not  defined  in  the  United  States  rules  and  articles 
of  war,  or  in  the  British  mutiny  act  from  which  they  are  copie^J, 
and  the  decisions,  as  to  what  will  constitute  the  ciime,  are  very 
various  in  both  countries,  I  only  refer  to  this  want  of  definition 
of  the  ort'ence,  and  to  these  various  decisions,  to  say  that  I  havo 
no  objection,  in  my  own  case,  to  have  iny  conduct  judged  by 
any  case  that  was  ever  decided  to  bo  mutiny,  either  in  this  coun- 
try or  in  Great  Britain,  strange  and  extraordinary  as  some  of 
these  cases  may  appear. 

"  The  first  act  of  this  ci'ime,  alleged  against  me,  is  found  in 
this  letter,  set  cut  as  the  basis  of  specification  first  in  charge 
first. — [Sec  letter  of  January  17,  1847,  ;>a/7C  192.) 

"  If  this  letter  is  mutiny,  Mr.  I'resident,  I  shall  now  add 
another  aggravation  to  the  five  aggravations  already  attending 
it;  I  shall  justify  it  before  this  court!  and  now  most  respect- 

10* 


m 


I 


WW 


II 


22G 


l.IFK   AND   SKIiVICKS   OF  JOIIN   C.    FREMONT. 


/,  I 


II!, 


't 


'ill 


fully  (loclnrft  that  I  would  write  the  same  lottcr  over  aijain  under 
tlm  same  ciictiinstMnces.  Hut  heiriif  prosccutr'tl  for  it,  I  ain 
bound  to  dct'eiid  myself,  and  proceed  to  do  it. 

"  I  am  happy  to  find  that  my  rights,  in  one  respect,  are  at 
least  equal  to  theirs — that  of  stating  my  own  ease  as  fidly  as 
they  stated  theirs,  and  showing  how  I  became  principal  in  a 
contest  which  was  theirs  bel'ore  I  heard  of  it,  or  came  near 
them  ;  ami  which,  as  suo-jrested  heretofore,  oiiQ^ht  to  have  beet) 
settled  between  tlieniselvea,  or  by  tlie  jjrovernment,  whoso  author- 
ity they  botli  bore.  A  Hid>orilitiate  in  rank,  as  in  the  contest, 
lon<if  and  secretly  marked  out  for  prosecution  by  the  command- 
ing general,  assailed  in  newspaper  publications  when  three  thou- 
saml  miles  distant,  and  standing  for  more  than  two  months 
before  this  court  to  hear  all  that  could  be  sworn  against  ray 
private  honor  as  well  as  against  my  ofHcial  conduct,  I  como  at 
last  to  the  right  to  speak  for  myself. 

"  In  using  this  privilege,  I  have  to  ask  of  this  court  to  believe 
that  the  preservation  of  a  commission  is  no  objoct  of  my  defence. 
It  came  to  mo,  as  did  those  which  preceded  it,  without  asking, 
either  by  myself,  or  by  any  friend  in  my  belialf.  I  endeavored 
to  resign  it  in  California,  through  General  Kearney,  in  March 
last  (not  knowijig  of  bis  design  to  arrest  me),  when  it  was  less 
injurious  to  me  than  it  is  at  present.  Such  as  it  now  is,  it 
would  not  be  worth  one  moment's  defence  before  this  court. 
But  1  have  a  name  which  was  without  a  blemish  before  I 
received  thai  coumiission  ;  and  that  name  it  is  my  intention  to 
defend. 

In  the  winter  of  1845-6,  I  approached  the  settled  parts  of 
Upjtor  Calitbrnia  with  a  party  of  sixty-two  men  and  about  two 
hundred  horses,  in  my  third  expedition  of  discovery  and  topo- 
graphical survey  in  the  remote  regions  of  the  great  West. 

"  I  was  then  brevet  caj)tain  in  the  corps  of  toi)ographical  engi- 
neeis,  and  had  no  rank  in  the  army,  nor  did  an  otHcer  or  soldier 
of  the  United  States  armv  accompany  me. 

The  object  of  the  expedition,  like  that  of  the  two  previous 


"'I 


(lier 


lOUS 


THE    DEFENOR. 


227 


:i 


ones,  was  wholly  of  a  scionlilic  cliariK'tcr,  without  the  lonst  view 
to  military  oporatioiis,  and  with  tho  clt't«'rmiiiation  to  avoid  them, 
as  hoitiiT  not  only  iinatithoiizod  by  tho  povorninont,  but,  dotri- 
niental  or  fatal  to  tho  pursuit  in  which  I  was  onfjaijo  1.  The 
men  with  me  were  citizens,  and  soino  Dt.'lawarc  Indian",  all  cm- 
ployed  by  myself  on  wajxc*,  and  solely  intended  for  protection 
Afjfainst  savacfes,  and  to  procniro  subsistence  in  tlio  wilderness, 
and  often  desert  country,  through  which  I  had  to  pass. 

"I  had  left  the  United  States  in  Mav,  1845 — a  year  beforo 
the  war  with  Mexico  broke  out ;  but  I  was  aware  of  tlie  actual 
state  of  artairs  between  tho  two  countri  !S,  atid  beinij  determined 
to  give  no  cause  of  offence  to  tho  Mexican  authorities  in  Cali- 
fornia, I  left  my  command  at  the  distance  of  about  two  hundred 
miles  fiom  Monterey,  and  proceeded,  almost  alone,  to  the  nearest 
military  station,  that  of  Now  Helvetia  (or  Sutter's  fort),  and 
obtained  a  passport  (which  I  now  have)  for  myself  ami  attend- 
ants to  proceed  to  Monterey,  tho  residence  of  the  comiiiandant 
general  or  deputy  governor.  General  Castro. 

"Arrived  at  Monterey,  I  called  upon  the  commandant  and 
other  authorities,  in  company  with  tho  United  States  consul,  and 
with  all  tlic  formalities  usual  on  such  occasions,  and  was  civilly 
received.  I  explained  to  General  Castro  the  object  of  my  com- 
ing into  California,  and  my  desire  to  obtain  permission  to  winter 
in  the  valley  of  the  San  Joaquin,  for  refreshment  or  repose, 
where  there  was  plenty  of  game  for  the  men  and  grass  for  the 
horses,  and  no  inhabitants  to  be  molested  by  our  presence. 
Leave  was  granted,  and  also  leave  to  continue  my  exploration* 
south  to  the  region  of  the  Rio  Colorado  and  of  the  Rio  Gila. 

"  In  the  last  days  of  February,  I  commenced  the  march  south, 
crossing  into  the  valley  of  the  Salinas,  or  Buenaventura,  and  soon 
received  a  notification  to  depart,  with  information  that  Gen.  Cas- 
tro was  assembling  troops  with  a  view  to  attack  us,  under  the 
pretext  that  I  had  come  to  California  to  excite  the  American 
settlers  to  revolt.  The  information  of  this  design  was  authentic, 
and  with  a  view  to  be  in  a  condition  to  repel  a  superior  force, 


if 


s 

if 

I 

II 

Bill 

h\i 

ii 

' 


til 


'h    i! 


ill 


i 


<  I 


228 


LIFE    AND   SERVICES    OF  JOHN   C.    FKEftlONT. 


provided  with  cannon,  I  took  a.  position  on  the  Sierra,  called  the 
Hawk's  Peak,  entrenched  it,  raised  the  flag  of  the  United  States, 
and  awaited  the  approach  of  the  assailants. 

"At  the  distance  of  four  miles  we  could  see  thein,  from  the 
Sierra,  assembling  men  and  hauling  out  cannon  ;  but  they  did 
not  aj)proach  nearer ;  and  after  remaining  in  the  position  from 
the  7th  to  the  10th  of  March,  and  seeing  that  we  were  not  to  be 
attacked  in  it,  and  determined  not  to  compromise  the  govern- 
ment of  the  United  States,  or  the  American  settlers,  who  were 
ready  to  join  me  at  all  hazards,  I  quit  the  position,  gave  up  all 
thoughts  of  prosecuting  my  researcues  in  that  (.lirection,  and 
turned  north  towards  Oregon. 

"Disappointed  in  the  favorite  design,  of  examining  the  southern 
parts  of  the  Alta  California,  and  the  valley  of  Rio  Colorado  and 
Gila,  I  formed  another  design  Avhich  I  hoped  would  be  of  some 
service  to  my  country,  that  of  exploring  a  route  to  the  Wah-lah- 
math  settlements  in  Oregon,  by  the  Tlamath  lakes ;  and  thence 
to  return  to  the  United  States  by  a  high  northern  route,  explor- 
ing the  country  in  that  direction.  In  pursuance  of  this  plan, 
and  before  the  middle  of  May,  we  had  reached  the  northern  shore 
of  the  Great  Tlamath  lake,  within  the  limits  of  Oregon,  when  we 
found  our  further  progress  in  that  direction  obstructed  by  impas- 
sable mountains,  and  hostile  Indians,  of  the  formidable  Tlamath 
tribes,  who  had  killed  or  wounded  four  of  our  men,  and  left  us 
no  repose  either  upon  the  march  or  in  the  camp. 

"  We  were  now  at  the  north  end  of  the  Greater  Tlamath  lake, 
in  the  territory  of  Oregon,  when  on  the  morning  of  the  9th  I  was 
surprised  to  find  ride  up  to  our  camp  two  men — one  turned  out 
to  be  Samuel  Neal,  formerly  of  my  topographical  party,  and  his 
companion,  who  quickly  informed  me  that  a  United  States  offi- 
cer was  on  my  trail,  with  dispatches  for  me,  but  he  doubted 
whether  he  would  ever  reach  me ;  that  he  and  his  companions 
had  only  escaped  the  Indians  by  the  goodness  of  their  horses ; 
and  that  he  had  left  the  officer,  with  three  men,  two  days 
behind. 


THE  DEFENCK. 


229 


ft  us 

ake, 
was 
out 
his 

loffi- 
)ted 

lions 

Lses ; 
lays 


•'Upon  the  spot  I  took  nine  men,  four  of  them  Delaware 
Indians,  coasted  the  western  shore  of  the  hike  for  sixty  miles,  and 
mot  the  party. 

'*  The  oflicer  was  Lieutenant  Gillespie.  He  brought  me  a  letter 
of  introduction  from  the  Secretary  of  State  (Mr.  liuchanan),  and 
letters  and  papers  from  Senator  Benton  and  his  family.  The 
letter  from  the  secretary  imported  nothing  beyond  the  introduc- 
tion, and  was  directed  to  me  in  my  private  or  citizen  capacity.  The 
outside  envelope  of  a  packet  from  Senator  Bentort  was  directed 
in  the  same  way,  and  one  of  the  letters  from  him,  while  appar- 
ently of  mere  friendship  and  family  details,  contained  passages 
enigmatical  and  obscure,  but  which  I  studied  out,  and  made  the 
meaning  to  be  that  I  was  required  by  the  government  to  find  out 
any  foreign  schemes  in  relation  to  the  Californias,  and  to  coun- 
teract them.  Lieutenant  Gillespie  was  bearer  of  dispatches  to 
the  United  States  consul  at  Monterey,  and  was  directed  to  find 
me  wherever  I  might  be ;  and  he  had,  in  fact,  travelled  above 
six  hundred  miles  from  Monterey,  and  through  great  dangers,  to 
reach  me. 

"  He  had  crossed  the  continent  through  the  heart  of  Mexico, 
from  Vera  Cruz  to  Mazatlan,  and  the  danger  of  his  letter  falling 
into  the  hands  of  the  Mexican  government  had  induced  the  pre- 
cautions to  conceal  their  meaninrr.  The  arrival  of  this  officer, 
his  letter  of  introduction,  some  things  which  he  told  me,  and  the 
letter  from  Senator  Benton,  had  a  decided  influence  on  my  next 
movement. 

"Three  men  were  killed  in  our  camp  by  the  Indians,  the 
night  Lieutenant  Gillespie  delivered  his  letters.  We  returned  to 
the  camp  at  the  north  end  of  the  lake,  pursued  and  waylaid,  but 
killing  two  of  the  assailants  without  loss. 

"I  determined  to  return  to  the  unsettled  pirts  of  the  Sacra- 
mento, and  did  so.  Soon  the  state  of  thino-s  in  California  was 
made  known  to  me  ;  Gen.  Castro  approaching  with  troops  ;  the 
Indians  of  California  excited  against  us ;  the  settlers  in  danger 
as  well  as  ourselves,  and  all  looking  to  me  for  help. 


230 


LIFE    AND    6KRVICES   OF   JOHN   C.    TREMONT. 


"  Wo  made  conimon  cause,  and  I  determined  to  seek  safety,  both 
for  tlietii  and  ourselves,  not  merely  in  the  defeat  of  Ca?tro,  but 
in  the  total  overthrow  of  Mexican  autliority  in  California,  and 
the  establishment  of  an  independent  government  in  that  exten- 
sive )>roviiu;e.     In  concert,  and  in  co-operation  with  the  Ameri- 
can settlers,  and  in  the  brief  space  of  about  thirty  days,  all  was 
accomplished  north  of  the  Bay  of  San  Francisco,  and  indepen- 
dence  declared    on  the  5th  day  of    July.     This  was  done  at 
Sonoma,  where  tlie  x\merican  settlers  had  assembled.     I  was 
called,  by  my  position,  and  by  the  general  voice,  to   the  chief 
direction   of  affairs,  and  on  the  next  d.-xy,  at  the  head  of  160 
mor.nted  riflemen,  set  out  to  find  Gen.  Castro.     He  was  then  at 
Santa  Clara,  on  the  south  side  of  the  bay,  in  an  entrenched  camp, 
with  400  men  and  some  pieces  of  artillery.     We  had  to  make 
a  circuit  round   the  head  of  the  bay,  and  on  the  10th  day  of 
July,  when  near  Sutter's  fort,  we  received  the  joyful  intelligence 
that    Commodore   Sloat   was    at  Monterey ;    had  taken  it  on 
the  Vth,  and   that  war  existed  between  the  United  States  and 
Mexico.     Instantly  we  pulled  down  the  flag  of  independence,  and 
ran  up  that  of  the  United  States. 

"  A  dispatch  from  Commodore  Sloat  requested  my  co-opera- 
tion, an<i  I  repaired  with  my  command  (IGO  mounted  rifles)  to 
Monterey.  I  was  ready  to  co-operate  with  him,  but  liis  health 
requiring  him  to  return  to  the  United  States,  he  relinquished 
the  command  to  Commodore  Stockton.  He  (Commodore  Stock- 
ton) determined  to  prosecute  hostilities  to  the  full  conquest  of 
the  country,  and  asked  not  co-operation,  but  service  under  him. 
He  made  this  proposal  in  writing  to  Lieutenant  Gillespie  and 
myself.  We  agreed  to  it,  and  so  did  our  men,  the  latter,  as 
Commodore  Stockton  so  emphatically  testified  before  this  court, 
refusing  to  stickle  about  terms  and  pay,  giving  their  services  first, 
and  trusting  their  government,  far  distant  as  it  was,  to  do  them 
justice. 

"  Commodore  Stockton  has  proved  the  terms  of  our  engage- 
ment with  him,  and  that  we  became  a  part  of  the  naval  forces 


H",  as 

)UVt, 
Ifil'St, 

lliem 


tage- 
)vce9 


THE   DEFENCE. 


231 


under  his  command.  I  wont  under  liim  with  pleasure.  I  was 
glad  to  be  relieved  from  the  resjionsibilities  of  my  position.  At 
the  same  time  I  had  no  doubt  but  that  the  riflemen  with  me 
would  have  chased  Castro,  with  his  troops,  out  of  the  country, 
and  that  the  Californian  population  might  be  conciliated.  If 
Commodore  Stockton  had  not  taken  the  command  and  lead  in 
the  war,  I  should  have  continued  the  work  as  I  had  begim  it, 
with  the  men  of  my  topographical  party,  and  the  American 
settlers,  and  had  not,  and  have  not,  a  doubt  of  our  success. 

"We  (Lieutenant  Gillespie  and  myself)  joined  Continodore 
Stockton  and  myself  for  the  public  good,  and  with  some  sacrifice 
of  our  independent  positions.  Neither  of  us  could  have  been 
commanded  by  him  except  upon  our  own  agreement.  I 
belonged  to  the  army,  and  was  at  the  head  of  the  popular 
movement  in  California.  The  common  voice  of  the  people 
called  me  to  the  head  of  affairs,  and  I  was  obeved  with  zeal  and 
alacrity.  Lieutenant  Gillespie  was  of  the  marines,  and  was, 
besides,  on  special  duty,  by  orders  of  the  President,  and  no  offi- 
cer of  any  rank  could  interfere  with  him.  We  might  have  con- 
tinued our  independent  position,  and  carried  on  tlie  war  by  land. 
We  judged  it  best  for  the  United  States  to  relinquish  that  inde- 
pendence, take  service  under  Commodore  Stockton,  obey  him  ; 
and  we  did  so.  His  testimony  is  complete  on  this  point.  We 
became  part  of  the  naval  forces.  We  went  under  the  command 
of  the  naval  commander  on  that  station;  and  it  was  to  the  naval 
commanders  there  that  the  President  had  specially  assigned  the 
conquest  of  California.  The  California  battalion  of  mounted 
riflemen  was  then  organized,  Commodore  Stockton  appointing 
all  the  officers,  myself  being  appointed  major,  and  Lieutenant 
Gillespie  captain.  From  that  time  we  were  part  of  the  naval 
forces  for  the  conquest  of  the  country. 

"  I  omit,  details  of  naval  or  military  events,  in  order  to  come 
to  the  point  which  concerns  me. 

"On  the  13th  of  August,  184(3,  Commodore  Stockton,  as  con- 
queror, took  possession  of  the  City  of  the  Angels,  the  seat  of  the 


«! 


'if' 


232 


LIFE   AND   SERVICES   OF  JOHN   C.    FREMONT. 


i  w 

I     ;  m 

i  !l! 


I    t 


fl 


governors  general  of  Ciilifornia.  On  the  iVth  he  issued  a  pro- 
chiiiutcion,  or  <le(-ec,  as  such,  for  the  notitiisatiou  and  govern- 
ment of  the  inhabitants,  followed  by  many  others  in  the  same 
(;haracter,  and  for  the  better  government  of  the  con(juered 
country. 

"On  the  28th  of  August,  he  communicated  all  these  acts  to 
the  government  at  liome,  stating  in  the  communication  that, 
wlien  lie  should  leave  California,  he  should  appoint  Major  Fre- 
mont  governor,  and   Captain   Gillesj)ie   secretary.     Four   days 
before  that  time,  namely,  on  the  24th  of  August,  and  in  antici- 
pation of  his  own  speedy  return  to  the  sea,  for  the  protection  of 
American  commerce  and  other  objects,  lie  appointed  me  military 
commandant  of  the  territory,  and  charged  me  with  enlisting  a 
suflicient  force  to  garrison  the  country,  and  to  watch  the  Indians 
and  other  enemies.      In  that  letter  is  this  paragraph :  '  I  pro- 
pose, before  I  leave  the  territori/,  to  a])point  you  to  be  (jovernor^ 
and  Captain  Gillespie  to  be  secretary  ;  and  to  appoint  also  the 
council  of  state,  and  all  the  necessary  officers.      You  ivill,  there- 
fore jvocccd  to  do  all  you  can  to  further  my  views  and  intentions 
thus  frankly  manifested.     Supp)Osing  that  by  the  2b th  of  Octo- 
ber you  ivill  have  accomjylished  your  part  of  these  preparations^ 
I  will  meet  you  at  San  Francisco  on  that  day,  and  place  you  as 
yovernor  of  California^ 

"  A  copy  of  this  letter,  with  a  copy  of  all  the  rest  of  tlio  acts 
of  Commodore  Stockton,  as  governor  and  commander-in-chief  in 
California,  was  sent  to  the  Navy  Department  at  the  time 
(August,  1840),  by  Mr.  Christopher  Carson,  who  was  met  by 
Genei'al  Kearney,  below  Santa  Fe,  on  the  Rio  Grande,  and 
turned  back,  the  dispatches  being  sent  on  by  Mr.  Fitzpatrick, 
and  were  communicated  to  Congress  with  the  annual  message 
of  the  President  of  December,  1846,  and  are  printed  in  the 
documents  attached  to  the  message,  from  page  GG8  to  GTo, 
inclusively."  ******* 

"It  is  then  certain  that, in  November,  1846,  the  President  had 
full  knowledge  of  Commodore  Stockton's  intention  to  appoint 


11 


THE   DEFENCE. 


233 


me  governor,  when  be  shoiikl  return  to  his  ship,  to  wit,  by  the 
25th  of  October;  and  in  hk  niessao;e  spoive  of  all  his  acts  in 
organizing  a  civil  governinr.nt  in  a  way  to  imply  (Mitire  appro- 
bation. At  the  san)e  time  that  Commodore  Stockton  sent  his  dis- 
patches, I  also  wrote  to  Senator  Benton,  giving  a  brief  account, 
for  Ins  own  information,  of  what  had  taken  place  in  California, 
and  especially  on  the  great  point  of  having  joined  the  American 
settlers  in  raising  the  tlag  of  Independence,  and  overturning  the 
Mexican  government  in  California.  It  was  done  before  we  had 
knowledge  of  the  war.  I  felt  all  its  responsibilities,  moral  and 
political,  personal  and  ofRcial.  It  was  a  resolve  made  by  me, 
not  merely  upon  serious  but  upon  long  and  painful  reflection.  I 
wrote  to  Senator  Benton,  if  my  conduct  was  not  approved,  to 
give  in  my  resignation,  and  sent  a  blank  for  him  to  fill  up  to 
that  effect.  Happy  had  it  been  for  me  had  the  government  then 
disapproved  my  conduct ! 

"  And  here  it  becomes  me  to  state  sometliing,  which  justice  to 
myself  and  other-s,  and  regard  for  history,  requires  to  be  known. 
A  few  facts  and  dates  will  establish  a  great  point. 

"Commodore  Sloat  arrived  at  Monterey  on  the  2d  day  of 
July ;  he  did  not  take  it ;  he  hesitated.  On  the  Vth,  he  did. 
He  had  by  that  time  heard  of  ray  operations,  and  supposed  I 
had  positive  instructions.  On  the  loth  of  July,  Commodore 
Stockton  arrived;  on  the  10th,  Admiral  Seymour,  in  the  Col- 
lingwood,  of  80  guns;  on  the  19th,  the  mounted  force,  under 
Lieutenant  Gillespie  and  myself.  Upon  priority  of  time  in  somo 
of  these  events  probably  depended  the  fate  of  California.  Com- 
modore Sloat's  action  was  determined  by  mine.  His  action,  on 
the  7th,  anticipated  the  arrival  of  Admiral  Seymour,  who  found 
the  American  flag  flying  whore  it  is  })robable  he  came  j):epared 
to  be  invited  to  raise  the  British. 

"  California  was  saved,  and  also  the  grant  of  tlie  tliree  thou- 
sand square  leagues  of  land  to  the  Irish  priest,  Macnamara  (all 
the  original  papers  of  which  I  have,  to  deliver  up  to  the  govern- 
ment), was  left  incomplete,  and  t'ae  land  saved,  as  well  as  the 


234 


LU^E    AND    SI'1R^^CK8   OK   JOHN    0.    FREMONT. 


sclienie  of  coloniziition  defeated.  History  may  some  day  verify 
these  events,*  and  show  that  the  preservation  of  California,  and 
tlie  th'feat  of  the  three  thousand  s(iiiarc  leagues  grant,  covering 
the  vallev  of  llie  San  Joatjuin,  was  owing  to  the  action  which 
determined  the  a<;tion  of  Conunodore  Sloat. 

"I  left  Los  Angeles  early  in  Sejjteniber.  The  insurrection 
broke  out  there  in  the  same  month,  and  soon  spread  over  all  the 
soutJiern  half  of  California.  It  extended  to  near  Monterey.  It 
delayed  Commodore  Stockton's  return  to  tlie  sea,  and  deferred 
my  own  ap])ointment  as  governor.  Instead  of  being  occupied 
in  arrangements  to  be  at  San  Francnsco,  on  the  25th  of  October, 
to  be  jilaced  *aj  governor  over   (JaUfornia^  I  was  engaged,  with 

*  A  Catholic  priest,  named  Eiigonio  Macnaniara,  in  the  year  1845  and 
the  early  j>art  of  ISKi,  was  domesticated  with  the  British  legation  at  the 
city  of  Mexico.  During  that  time  he  made  ai^plicalion  for  a  grant  of 
land  for  the  purpose  of  establishing  a  colony  in  California.  lie  asked  for 
a  square  league,  containing,  4,428  acres,  to  he  given  to  each  family,  and 
that  each  child  of  a  colonist  should  have  half  a  square  league.  The  ter- 
ritory to  he  conveyed  to  him  should  be  around  San  Francisco  Bay, 
embrace  three  thousand  square  leagues,  and  include  the  entire  valley  of 
the  Sail  Joarpiin.  lie  agreed  to  bring  a  thousand  families  at  the  begin- 
ning. Ilis  object  is  stat<Hl  in  hts  memorial  to  the  Mexican  President,  in 
these  words  : 

"  I  propose,  with  the  aid  and  approbation  of  your  excellency,  to  place 
in  Ui)per  California,  a,  colony  of  Irish  Catholics.  1  have  a  triple  object 
in  making  this  proposition.  I  wish,  in  the  first  place,  to  advance  the 
cause  of  Catholicism.  In  the  second,  to  contribute  to  the  happiness  of 
my  countrymen.  Thirdly,  I  de.sirc  to  fut  an  ohi^tacle  in  the  way  of  fur- 
ther nsHrpatiotis  on  the  part  of  an  irrcVirflou^  and  antl- Catholic  nation.''^ 

His  proposal  was  favorably  entertained  by  the  central  government. 
It  was  referred,  for  a  final  decision,  to  the  landholders  and  local  authori- 
ties of  California.  Conventions  wore  about  being  held  to  perfect  the 
arrangement.  Macnamara  was  landed,  from  the  British  frigate  Juno, 
one  of  Sir  (leorge  Seymour's  fleet,  at  Santa  Barbara,  just  at  this  time. 
Everything  was  ripe  for  a  final  settlement  of  the  whole  matter;  and 
by  virtue  of  this  grant  of  land  to  Macnamara,  the  whole  country 
would  have  pas.<?ed  under  British  protection. —  Uphain''s  Life,  of  Fremonty 
p.  229. 


THE   DEFENCE. 


235 


little  other  menus  than  personal  influence,  in  raising  men  from 
tlio  Aniorican  sitilonients,  on  the  »SacrauienLo,  to  ^o  south  to 
sui)i)rc'ss  the  insurrection. 

"  With  a  small  body  of  men,  hastily  raised  for  the  emerii,-e!icy, 
I  embarkeil,  according  to  Coinuuxioro   Stockton's  orders,  lirst,  in 
boats  to  descend  the  bay  of  San  Francisco,  and  tlien,  in  the  siiip 
Steilinu:,  to  ijo  down  the  coast  to  Santa  Barbara.      We  had  left 
our  horses,  and  expected  to  obtain  remounts  when  we   landed. 
Two  days  after  our  departure  from  San  Francisco,  we  fell  in  with 
the   merchant  ship   Vandalia,  from  which  I   learned,  and  truly, 
that  no  horses  could  be  had   below;  that,  to  keep  it  out  of  our 
hands,  the  Calitbrnians  had  driven  all  their  stock  into  the  inte- 
rior, and  that  San  Diego  was  the  only  point  left  in  possession  of 
the  Americans.     I  therefore  determined  to  return  to  Monterev, 
and  make  the  march  overland.     I  did  so,  and  there  I  learned,  on 
the  27Lh  of  October,  tiiatl  had  been  aj)pointed  lieutenant-colonel 
in  the  army  of  the  United  States.     It  was  now  the   month  of 
December,  the  beginning  of  winter,  and  the  cold  distressing  rains 
had  connnenced.     Everything  had  to  be  done  and  done  quickly, 
and  with  inadequate  means.     In  a  few  weeks  all  was  ready  ;  400 
men  mounted;  three  pieces  of  artillery  on  carri<ages :  beef  cat- 
tle procured  ;  the  march  commenced,  I  omit  its  details  to  men- 
tion the  leading  events,  a  knowk  Ige  of  which  is  essential  to  my 
defence.     We  made  a  secret  march  of  150  miles  to  San  Louis 
Obispo,  the  seat  of  a  district  commandant;  took  it  by  surprise, 
without   firing   a  gun  ;  captured  the  commandant,  Don  Jesus 
I'ico,  the  head  of  the  insurrection  in  that  quarter,  with  thirty- 
five  others,  among  them   the  wounded  captain  who  had  com- 
manded at  La   Natividad.     Don  Jesus  was  put  before  a  court 
martial  for  breaking  his  parole,    sentenced  to  be  shot,  but  par- 
doned.     That  pardon  ha  1    its  influence  on  all  the  subsequent 
events;  Don  Jesus  was  the  cousin  of  Don  Andreas  Pico,  against 
whom   I  was  going,  and    was  married  to  a  lady  of  the  Cavillo 
family  ;  many  hearts  were  contpiered  the  day  he  was  pardoned, 
and  his  own  above  all.     Among  the  papers  seized,  was  the  origi- 


i!  kti 


23G 


LIFE   AND   SERVICES   OF   JOHN   C.    FKEMONT. 


'■i\     ■!■ 


i- 


Tial  dispatcli  of  General  Floras,  which  informed  us  of  the  action 
of  San  rasijual,  hut  without  knowint^  who  cominaiided  on  the 
AnuM'ican  side.  Don  Jesus  Pico  attached  himself  to  my  person, 
and  remained  devoted  and  faithful  under  trying  circumstances. 
We  pursued  our  march,  passing  all  the  towns  on  the  way  without 
collision  with  the  people,  but  with  great  labor  from  the  state  of 
the  roads  and  rains.  On  Christmas  day,  1846,  we  struggled  on 
the  Santa  Barbara  mountains  in  a  tempest  of  chilling  rains  and 
winds,  in  whicli  a  hundred  horses  perished,  but  the  men  stood  to 
it  to  their  honor.  They  deserve  mention,  for  they  are  not  paid 
yet. 

"  We  passed  the  maritime  defile  of  the  Rincon,  or  Punta  Gorda, 
without  resistance,  flanked  by  a  small  vessel  which  Commodore 
Stockton  had  sent  to  us,  under  Lieutenant  Selden  of  the  navy.  A 
corj)s  of  observation,  of  some  50  or  100  horsemen,  galloped  about 
us,  without  doing  or  receiving  harm  :  for  it  did  not  come  within  my 
policy  to  have  any  of  them  killed.  It  was  the  camp  of  this  corps 
which  Captain  Ilainlyn  passed,  to  give  me  Commodore  Stockton's 
orders,  whicli  he  found  in  the  "  camp  of  the  willows,"  as  said  in 
his  testimony.  The  defile  of  San  Fernando  was  also  passed,  a  corps 
which  occupied  it  falling  back  as  the  rifles  advanced.  We  entered 
the  plain  of  Couenga,  occupied  by  the  enerny  in  considerable 
force,  and  I  sent  a  summons  to  them  to  lay  down  their  arms,  or 
fight  at  once.  The  chiefs  desired  a  parley  with  me  in  person.  I 
went  alone  to  see  them  (Don  Jesus  Pico  only  being  with  rae). 
They  were  willing  to  capitulate  to  me ;  the  terms  were  agreed 
upon.  CommLssioners  were  sent  out  on  both  sides  to  put  it  into 
form.  It  received  the  sanction  of  the  governor  and  commander- 
in-chief,  Commodore  Stockton,  and  was  reported  to  the  govern- 
ment of  the  United  States.  It  was  the  capitulation  of  Couenga. 
It  put  an  end  to  the  war  and  to  the  feelings  of  war.  It  tranquil- 
ized  the  cotmtry,  and  gave  safety  to  every  American  from  the  day 
of  its  conclusion. 

"  My  march  from  Monterey  to  Los  Angeles,  whicli  we  entered 
on  the  14th  of  January,  was  a  subject  for  gratulation.   A  march  of 


i  ill! 


■'■V, 


\\:''' 


"Jkk. 


THE  DflFENCfi. 


237 


400  miles  tlirough  an  insurgent  country,  witliout  spilling  a  drop 
of  blood — conquering  by  clemency  and  justice — and  so  gaining 
the  hearts  of  all,  that,  until  troubles  came  on  from  a  new  source,  I 
could  have  gone  back,  alone  and  unarmed,  upon  the  trail  of  my 
march,  trustincr  for  life  and  bread  to  those  alo'ie  amonrr  whom  I 
liad  nuirched  as  conquerer,  and  whom  1  b.?''c  '.een  represented  as 
plundering  and  oppressing?  I  anticipate  the  order  of  time,  but 
preserve  the  connection  of  events  by  copying  here  from  an  origi- 
nal private  letter  to  Senator  Benton,  written  at  Los  Angeles,  the 
3d  of  February,  1847,  received  by  him  in  May  at  St.  Louis,  and 
sen  t  to  the  President  for  his  reading,  whose  endorsement  is  on 
the  back,  in  his  own  liandwriting,  stating  it  to  have  been  re- 
ceived from  Mr.  Christopher  Carson  on  the  8th  of  June. 

"Had  it  not  been  for  the  treatment  I  have  received,  the  secret 
purpose  to  arrest,  the  accumulated  charges,  tlie  publications 
against  me,  and  other  circumstances  of  the  prosecution,  I  should 
have  been  willing  to  have  read  that  paper  to  the  court  as  my 
sole  defence  against  this  charfj3  of  mutiny ;  as  things  are,  I  copy 
fiom  it  merely  some  passages,  which  illustrate  what  I  have  said 
of  the  effects  of  that  march  from  Monterey,  and  the  capitulation 
of  Coueufja. 

" '  Knowinir  well  the  views  of  the  cabinet,  and  satisfied  that  it 
was  a  great  national  measure  to  unite  California  to  us  as  a  sister 
State,  by  a  voluntary  expression  of  the  popular  will,  I  had  in  all 
my  marches  through  the  country,  and  in  all  my  intercourse  with 
the  people,  acted  invariably  in  strict  accordance  with  this  impres- 
sion, to  which  I  was  naturally  further  led  by  my  own  feelings.  I 
had  kept  my  troops  under  steady  restraint  and  discipline,  and 
never  permitted  to  them  a  wanton  outrage,  or  any  avoidable  des- 
truction of  property  or  life.  The  result  has  clearly  shown  the 
wisdom  of  the  course  I  have  pursued.     *         *         *         * 

" '  Throughout  the  California  population,  there  is  only  one 
feeling  of  satisfaction  and  gratitude  to  myself.  The  men  of  the 
country,  most  forward  and  able  in  the  revolution  against  us,  now 
put  themselves  at  my  disposition,  and  say  to  me,  "  Viva  ustcl  sc- 
guro,  ducrme  anted  aeyuro''^  (live  safe,  sleep  safe),  "wo  ourselves 


4 


■^ 


238 


LIFE   AND   fiKKVIC158   OF   JOHN   C.    FRKMONT. 


tf  j.t 


1  ; 


1     ; 


i  I' 


li. 


V    ''''  it'     '*l      t^' 


will  w.'itch  over  the  traiKjuillity  of  tl»o  country,  ami  nothing  can 
happen  whirh  shall  not  be  known  to  you."  The  unavailing  dis- 
Ralisfaction  on  the  pait  of  (our)o\vn  peoj)lc,  was  easily  re]<resse(J  ; 
the  treaty  was  ratitieil.' 

"'1  tei'niinate  my  narrative  at  tlio  capitulation  of  Coucnga 
because  at  that  point  I  got  into  coininunication  with  niy  two 
8Ui)eriors,  became  involved  in  their  dillicultics,  and  the  events 
began  for  which  I  am  prosecuted. 

''From  this  point  the  evidence  begins.     My  narrative,  intend- 
ed to  be  brief  anil  rapid,  was  necessary  to  the  understanding  oj 
my  position  in  California,  and  brings  me  to  the  point  of  the  pur 
ticular  offences  charged  against  me. 

"Mutiny  is  tirst  in  the  order  of  the  charges,  and  the  first  speci 
fication  under  it  is,  for  disobeyin,^  the  negative  order  of  General 
Kearney,  in  relation  to  the  re-organization  of  the  California  batta- 
lion. 

"Governor  Stockton  gave  me  an  order  to  re-organize  it.  Gen- 
eral Kearney  sent  me  an  order  not  to  re-organize  it;  this  on  the 
16th  of  January,  in  the  night.  The  next  morning  I  informed 
General  Kearney,  by  letter,  that  I  though  the  and  Govt  rnor 
Stockton  ought  to  adjust  the  question  of  rank  between  them- 
selves ;  and,  until  that  was  done,  I  should  have  to  obey  Commo" 
dore  Stockton,  as  theretofore ;  and  gave  some  statement  of  facts 
and  reasons  for  my  justification. 

'•  This  letter  constitutes  the  alleged  act  of  mutiny ;  the  ingre- 
dient of  a  corrui>t  motive,  in  trying  to  trade  for  a  governorship, 
has  been  since  added  ;  and  now,  let  the  accuser  and  prosecuting 
witness  spe;ik  for  himself. 

"  On  the  first  day  of  his  examination.  General  Kearney  testifies 
thus ; 

"' On  the  day  subsequent,  viz.,  on  l7th  of  January,  Lieuten- 
ant Colonel  Fremont  ca7ne  to  my  quarters,  and  in  conversation,  I 
asketi  him  whether  he  had  received  my  communication  of  the 
day  previous ;  he  acknowledged  the  receipt  of  it,  and  stated  that 
he  had  written  a  reply  and  left  it  with  his  clerk  to  be  copied. 

'"About  this  time,  n  pprmn  entered  the  room  with  a  paper  in 


;   iJ' 


THE  DEPKNCE. 


239 


liis  liand,  wliicli  Lioiiteu.int  Colonel  Fremont  took,  overlooked, 
nnd  then  useil  the  pen  upon  my  tahlo  to  s\<rn  it;  his  r/erk\\ii\'\\\<r 
toltl  him  that  the  siurriatme  was  wanrini^  to  it.  He  then  handed 
it  to  n)o.  At  mv  request,  Lieutenant  Colonel  I'Veinont  took  a  chair 
])y  my  table  while  I  read  the  letter. 

••'  Ilavinir  tinished  the  reading'  of  it,  I  told  liin)  I  was  hn  older 
man  than  himself;  that  I  was  a  much  older  soldier  than  iiimself; 
that  1  had  a  c^reat  respect  and  rei^ard  for  his  wife,  and  Lfrcat 
friendship  for  his  father-in-law,  Colonel  Ik'iiton,  from  whom  1  had 
received  inanvactsof  kindness;  that  these  consitlerations  induced 
me  to  volunteer  advice  to  him  ;  and  the  advice  was,  that  he  shoidd 
take  the  letter  back  and  destroy  it  ;  that  I  was  willing  to  forget  it. 
Lieutenant  Colonel  Fremont  t/ec^mcf/  taking  it  back,  and  told  mo 
that  Commodore  Stoc^kton  would  support  him  in  the  position  taken 
in  that  letter.  1  told  him  that  Commodore  Stockton  could  not 
support  iiiu)  in  disobeying  the  oi'ders  of  liis  senior  oj/icer,  and  that 
if  ho  2)crsisted  in  it  lie  would  unquestiomdjlij  ruin  himself,  lie 
told  me  that  Commodore  Stockton  sswa  about  to  organize  a  (;ivil 
government,  and  intended  to  appoint  iiiin  governor  of  the  territory. 
1  told  him  Commodore  Stockton  had  no  su(di  authoritv,  tluit 
authority  having  been  conferred  on  mo  by  the  President  of  the 
United  States.  lie  asked  me  whether  I  ivould  (appoint  him 
governor?  I  told  him  that  I  expected  shortly  to  leave  California 
lor  Missouri ;  that  I  had,  previously  to  leaving  Santa  Fe,  asked 
permission  to  do  so,  and  was  in  hopes  of  receiving  it;  that,  as 
soon  as  the  ('ountry  should  be  quieted,  I  should,  most  probably, 
organize  a  civil  government,  and  that  I  at  that  time  kneio  of  no 
objection  to  appointing  him  as  the  governor.  He  then  stated  to 
me  that  he  would  see  Commodore  Stockton,  and  that  unless  he 
app<iinted  him  governor  at  once,  he  would  not  obey  his  orders  ; 
and  he  left  me.' 

"  This  is  the  evidence  on  whicli  the  prosecution  rests  the  convic- 
tion, both  for  the  fact,  and  its  imputed  baso  motive;  and  at  this 
point  the  defence  begins,  and  will  be  directe<]  at  once  to  both 
motive  and  fact,  with  tlie  belief  of  showinrr  each  to  be  untrue. 


2+0 


MFi:    AND    fil.UVICKrt    OK   JOHN    C.    KIIKMONT. 


li   1 


I  -i: 


<  •: 


"  Firxf,  AS  to  tlio  proh.'ihility  of  this  testimony  in  nil  that  itnpute!! 
the  (IJRhononihh)  ('otuliict  to  mo,  which  is  pro.seutod  ,'is  tho  motivo 
of  tho  tnoolitu;. 

**  I  lioUl  it  to  ho  improhalilo  on  it*,  face,  and  srlf-ovidonlly  unwor- 
thy of  crodit.  It  represents  mo  as  ooinini^  to  (.leneral  Ivoarney's 
(juartcrs  without  invitation,  siirning  a  letter  in  hispresenco  which 
1  hail  (lireotod  to  ho  hrou-^dit  after  me,  ,u:ivinijf  it  to  him  to  read, 
and  rofiisinu;  to  take  it  hack  and  ac(!opt  his  pardon  and  oblivion  for 
havincf  written  it.  The  writinu^  of  tho  letter  was  avowed  at  tho 
outset  of  the  trial  ;  the  (piestion  now  is  upon  wliat  passed  at  the  time 
of  its  deliverv.  'i'he  letter  contained  reasons  which  ])laccd  mv 
refusjil  to  obey  his  order  on  hi^h  jrrounils  of  fact  and  law  ;  tho 
testimony  presents  me  as  descending  at  once  from  all  those  high 
reasons  to  the  low  and  base  proposal  of  virtually  sellina^  ujysolf 
to  tho  best  bidder  himself  or  Commodore  Stockton,  for  a  jrovornor- 
ship.     Accordinir  to  the  testimony,  tho  proposal  was  abrupt. 

"  '  lie  asked  mo  whether  I  would  appoint  iiim  governor?'  and 
this  sudden  otter  to  sell  myself,  in  a  case  in  which  tho  purcliaser 
would  be  about  as  censurable  as  the  seller,  far  from  exciting 
indignation,  seems  to  have  boon  courteously  entertained;  and  far 
from  being  instantly  rejected,  seemed  to  be  accepted,  provided  a 
little  time  was  given  for  p;iyment.  'I  (General  K.)  then  told 
liim  that  I  expected  shortly  to  leave  California  for  Missouri,  <fec., 
etc.,  and  that  I,  at  that  time,  knew  of  no  objections  to  appointing 
liitn  as  governor.'  Thus,  he  had  no  objections  to  the  transaction — 
only  wanted  a  little  time  for  performance.  I,  on  the  contrary, 
was  for  prompt  work  ;  for  the  testimony  immediately  says:  '  lie 
then  stated  to  me  that  ho  would  see  Commodore  vStockton,  and 
unless  he  appointed  him  governor  at  once,  he  would  not  obey  his 
orders ;  and  he  left  me.' 

"This  is  the  spirit  of  trade,  with  its  very  language  and  action, 
with  the  clear  implication  that  1  immediately  went  to  Commo- 
dore Stockton,  and  not  coming  back,  had  received  the  appoint- 
ment ;it  once.     Now,  all  this  is  too  cool  and  quick. 

"  It  is  im  robablo  on    its  face,  especially  coupled  with   tho 


THE    I)KI'KN(;i:. 


241 


fact  that  I  left,  the  luttcr  in  his  hands,  after  his  warninj;^  of  im- 
c]m'stional»I(5  ruin,  \vhiili  mnv  constitutt^s  the  aIK'L,^e(l  a(;t  of 
mutiny,  and  so  put  myself  couiidt^lely  in  his  power,  both  for  the 
fact  and  the  alle<;ed  motive.     The  testimonv  is  improbable. 

"  ScconJli/y  I  hold  it  to  be  iiivalidatoil  on  the  <'ross-exami- 
nation. 

"This  is  tlio  n(!.\t  point  of  view  in  which  I  pro|)osf»  tooxanilna 
this  part  of  the  testimony.  Alter  his  examination  catn(i  his 
cross-examination  ;  and  by  means  of  that  proinj  and  sharp 
searcher  after  truth,  (.-ame  out  many  (iinMinistanees  to  invalidalo 
the  first  svvearint;".  Thus,  the  testimony  o])ens  with  sayini;; '  Lieu- 
tenant Colonel  Fremont  came  to  my  <piarters,'  itc.,  the  infer- 
ence boins^,  that  I  camo  of  my  own  head  ;  and,  from  the  sud- 
den manner  in  which  I  ojiened  the  subject,  tlie  further  inference 
being,  that  I  came  for  the  governorship ;  and  third  inference 
being,  from  my  sud<len  exit  and  eagerness  to  see  Commodore 
Stockton,  that  my  whole  business  was  to  see  from  wliicli  I  couhl 
get  the  governorship  the  soonest.  Now,  if  I  did  not  come  of 
my  own  head — if  General  K.  himself  actually  sent  for  me,  and 
desired  to  see  me  on  business — then  all  these  inferences,  so  injuri- 
ous to  me,  fall  to  the  ground  ;  and  tlio  very  lirst  words  spoken 
by  the  witness,  though  literally  true,  become  untrue  testimony, 
and  impart  a  character  to  the  interview  which  the  truth  re- 
quires to  be  reversed.     Now  let  us  see  liow  the  fact  is. 

"  On  the  eighth  day  of  the  trial,  this  question  was  put  to 
General  Kearney  :  *  Did  he  (Lieutenant  Colonel  Fremont)  como 
of  his  own  head  (as  your  statement  implies),  or  did  you  invito 
him?' 

"  The  answer  to  that  question  was  this  :  '  I  have  no  recollection 
of  havinjo:  invited  hira  to  come.'  On  hearinof  tliis  answer  a  small 
slip  of  paper  with  a  few  words  written  upon  it  was  exhibited  to 
the  witness,  and  this  question  addressed  to  him :  '  Is  this  paper 
an  original?'  The  word  original  was  used  on  purpose  to 
remind  the  witness  of  what  had  occurred  on  the  first  day  of  the 
trial,  and  to  show  the   court  that  the  implication  then  gratui- 

11 


-fl 

m 

I   ilillsl 

1 

I''- 

r 

t 

1;     ^     ' 

t   ■ 

242 


LIFE    AND    SKUVICKS    OK   JolIN    C.    FUICMONT. 


tously  raised  ajjaiiist  nie  as  a  person  who  would  destroy  originals, 
was  about  to  receive  a  retributive  rebuke.  To  tliis  question  and 
slip  of  paper,  tlie  witness  answered  :  '  That  is  my  writing,  and 
that  is  my  note.' 

"  The  note  was  tlien  read  and  was  in  these  words : 

"  'January  17. 
"  'Dear  Colonel  :  I  wish  to  see  you  on  business. 

'"S.  W.  Keapney, 

'^ '  liri/jadier  General.''  " 

"This  settled  the  question  of  the  connn}jf,  and  not  only  showed 
that  it  was  upon  General  Kearney's  invitation  that  I  came  his  quar- 
ters on  that  day,  hut  that  it  was  an  invitation  in  writing,  and  to  a 
business  interview  that  1  was  invited,  and  conseiiuently  that  it  was 
his  seeking  and  not  mine  tliat  brouglit  us  together,  and  his  business, 
not  mine,  that  was  the  objeet  of  the  interview.  The  produetion  of 
this  httle  original  worked  this  great  change  in  the  character  and 
etteet  of  the  evidence ;  it  reversed  the  character  of  the  coming,  and 
destroyed  all  the  implications  arising  from  a  voluntary  coming  of 
my  own  head,  and  for  a  purpose  of  my  own. 

'Mint  suppose  this  little  original  luid  i)een  actuallylost  ordestroyed, 
then  the  tirst  answer  of  General  Kearney,  that  he  had  no  recollec- 
tion of  having  invited  me  to  come,  would  have  stood  with  the 
etfect  of  an  atlirmation  that  he  had  not  invited  me,  and  would  have 
left  in  full  force  rll  the  injurious  implications  resulting  from  a  gra- 
tuitous visit  on  such  an  occasion,  and  with  such  a  conversa  ion 
sworn  against  me. 

"As  I  would  have  suflTered  from  implications  in  the  first  state  of 
his  evidence,  I  claim  the  benefit  of  them  in  its  corrected  form ;  and, 
further,  I  present  it  as  an  instance  of  the  infirmity  of  his  memory. 

"  The  want  of  recollection  in  the  witness  in  this  inqjortant  particu- 
lar, I  am  instructed  by  counsel  to  say,  goes  to  the  invalidation  of 
his  testimony  with  respect  to  the  whole  interview.  The  circum- 
stance was  an  important  one.  It  was  a  key  to  the  character  of  the 
interview  :  it  decided  the  character  of  the  interview  as  being  at  his 
instance  or  mine.  It  decided  it  to  be  a  business  interview,  and  that 
business  his,  and  not  mine.  It  precludes  the  idea  of  my  coming  to 
him  for  any  purpose  wlmtever  ;  it  fixes  the  fact  that  he  sent  to  ma 


^1 


THE   DEFENCK. 


9Ar> 


for  a  purpose,  and  that  not  a  conunon  one,  as  ho  invited  me  to  an 
interview,  which  Avas  u  private  one,  at  his  own  quarters.  General 
Kearney  was  then  in  tlie  crisis  of  liis  dilfi(;ulties  with  Governor 
Stockton  ;  he  was  making  a  last  effort  to  get  me  to  join  Iiim. 

"The  next  circumstanco  of  invalidation  which  I  mention,  arisin{< 
from  liis  own  testimony,  is  in  this  statement :  '  lie  told  mo  that 
Commodore  Stockton  was  about  to  organize  a  civil  government,  and 
intended  to  appoint  him  governor  of  that  territory.'  Now,  it  ap- 
pears hy  liis  own  letter  to  Commodore  Stockton  of  the  IGth  of 
January,  that  he  knew  that  Governor  Stockton  was  then  engaged  in 
appointing  civil  oflicers  for  tho  territory;  that,  as  to  intending  to 
appoint  me,  I  could  not  have  said  so,  hecause  I  had  heen  virtually 
appointed  since  Septend)er  of  184(5,  and  actually  commissioned  tho 
day  before ;  and  linally,  that  Governor  Stockton  had  made  known 
to  General  Kearney  at  St.  Diego,  in  December,  that  he  intended  to 
appoint  me,  and  had  so  informed  the  government  at  Washington. 
(Ninth  day's  testimony.) 

"The  next  circumstance,  to  invalidate  tho  witness  upon  his  own 
swearing,  is,  what  he  says  ho  stated  in  reply  to  tho  request  to  bo 
appointed  governor,  namely,  '  that  he  (General  Kearney)  at  that 
time  knew  of  no  objection  to  appointing  hiui  governor,  when  ho 
left  the  country,'  &c.,  &c.  Time  is  tho  material  point  in  this  state- 
ment, and  this  point  the  witness  has  fortunately  made  clear  botli 
by  collocation  and  cross  examination.  It  is  jilaccd  near  tho  end  of 
the  interview,  and  after  the  act  of  meeting,  with  all  its  aggravations. 
hsul  been  con.sun\mated  in  his  presence;  and  tho  cross-examination 
took  place  on  the  ninth  day  of  the  trial,  and  shows  that  it  was  after 
the  supposed  crime,  for  which  I  am  now  prosecuted,  was  consum- 
mated in  his  presence,  that  ho  was  able  to  see  no  objection  to 
appointing  mo  governor  of  California. 

"  From  this  it  results  that  my  conduct  that  day  did  not  appear  to 
be  mutiny,  or,  that  mutiny  was  no  objection  to  his  appointing  mo 
governor  of  California.  In  either  event,  I  present  the  circumstance 
as  invalidating  his  testimonj-,  as  it  is  impossible  to  reconcile  the  op- 
posite opinions  of  my  conduct  which  tho  declaration  of  that  day, 
and  the  prosecution  of  this  day  present. 

"The  next  invalidating  circumstance  which  I  draw  from  the  cross- 
examination,  is,  in  the  difference  which  it  exhibits  to  the  first  day's 
testimony  in  relation  to  this  alleged  upi)liefitioii  for  the  governor- 


I 


'  ]i  r 


I  ■ 


'  y 


24'J: 


LIFE   AND   SERVICES   OF   JOUN   C.    FKEMONT. 


U  i] 


if ' 


ship,  and  the  answer  to  it.  The  first  day's  testimony  professes  to 
give  the  interview  full  and  complete,  and  in  the  exact  words  of 
each  6i)ealcer ;  the  cro.ss-examination  on  the  10th  day  makes  mate- 
rial variations.  The  first  day's  testimony  says :  "  He  asked  me 
whether  I  would  appoint  him  governor?'  That  is  a  single  question 
as  to  the  fact.  The  cross-examination  adds  another,  as  to  time,  by 
adding,  '  and  when  V — and  that  led  to  a  corresponding  dift'erence 


in  the  answer,   by 


substituting 


a    month    or    six   weeks,'   for 


'shortly.'  The  cross-examination  of  the  same  day,  and  of  the  9th 
also,  brought  the  fact  of  two  material  omissions  in  that  report  of  the 
conversation  of  the  I7tli.  One  related  to  the  fact  of  Lieutenant 
Colonel  Fremont's  urging  him  (General  Kearney)  to  have  a  personal 
intervies  with  Governor  Stockton,  and  expressing  the  belief  that  all 
difliculties  between  them  could  be  settled  in  such  an  interview ;  the 
other,  in  bringing  out  the  fact  that  I  appeared  to  bo  greatly  dis- 
tressed at  the  dilFerences  between  tlie  two  superior  ofiicers.  Neither 
of  these  important  facts  are  mentioned  in  the  direct  testimony,  pur- 
porting to  be  verbally  exact,  and  precisely  full,  neither  more  nor  less ; 
but,  not  only  are  these  points  omitted,  but,  as  told,  there  is  no  part 
of  the  conversation  to  which  they  could  be  applicable — no  place 
where  they  would  fit  in ;  from  which  the  conclusion  is  inevitable, 
that  some  whole  topics,  and  of  a  very  different  kind  from  these 
related,  were  forgotten  in  tluit  report  of  a  conversation. 

"  To  be  distressed  at  the  state  of  things,  between  the  two  superi- 
ors, was  a  different  thing  from  making  dissensions  between  them; 
to  endeavor  to  get  them  together  for  tlie  purpose  of  reconciliation, 
was  very  different  from  committing  mutiny  against  one  of  them. 
Yet  these  circumstances,  so  important  to  the  fair  and  just  understand- 
ing of  my  conduct  and  feelings,  are  wholly  omitted  in  the  direct 
testimony,  and  only  imperfectly  got  out  in  the  cross-examination, 
without  tlie  topics  to  which  they  belong,  and  without  showing  a 
place  in  the  reported  conversation  to  Avhich  they  could  be  applica- 
ble, or  made  to  fit ;  thereby  implying  greater  omissions  than  have 
been  discovered.  As  if  to  deprive  me  of  the  merit  which  these 
disclosures  implied,  the  \vitness  added,  'Lieutenant  Colonel  Fre- 
mont might  have  effected  an  interview  between  Commodore  Stock- 
ton and  myself;  perhaps  there  were  but  few  others  at  Los  Angeles 
who  could  have  done  it.' 

"  I  certainly  believe  I  could  have  effected  the  interview.    Governor 


THE   DEB^ENCE. 


245 


le 


Stockton  had  no  objection  to  it,  but  General  Kearney's  sudden 
departure  the  next  morning,  without  notice  to  me,  frustrated  any 
such  attempt  at  reconciliation. — (Tenth  day's  testimony,  near  the 
close.) 

"  The  next  invalidating  circumstance,  drawn  from  the  cross-exami- 
naiion  in  relation  t  (lie  same  j)oint,  is,  in  not  suppressing  or  endeav- 
oring to  suppress,  the  alleged  mutiny  at  the  time  it  is  charged  to  have 
been  committed. 

"  The  eighth  arti^rle  of  war,  copied  from  the  British  mutiny  act,  is 
imperative  that,  '  any  officer,  non-commissioned  officer,  or  soldier, 
who,  being  present  at  any  mutiny  or  sedition,  does  not  use  his 
utmost  endeavor  to  suppress  the  same,  or  coming  to  the  know- 
ledge of  any  intended  mutiny,  does  not,  without  delay,  give  informa- 
tion thereof  to  his  commanding  officer,  shall  be  punished,  by  the 
sentence  of  a  general  court  martial,  with  death,  or  otherwise,  accord- 
ing to  the  nature  of  his  offence.'  As  a  further  ter*  to  ascertain 
General  Kearney's  opinion  of  my  conduct  on  that  day,  the  following 
question  was  put  to  him  :  '  Did  you  do  your  utmost  to  suppress  the 
mutiny  of  which  Lieutenant  Colonel  Fremont  is  charged  with  being 
guilty  in  your  quarters,  and  in  your  presence  ?'  The  judge  advo- 
cate reminded  the  witness  of  Ids  privilege  to  refuse  to  answer  where 
he  might  subject  himself  to  a  j>enalty,  but  the  witness  did  not  claim 
his  privilege,  and  answered:  'Nothing  further  passed  between 
Lieutenant  Colonel  Fremont  and  myself  in  the  interview,  than  what 
I  have  stated ;'  (adding,  the  next  day,  '  to  the  best  of  my  recollec- 
tion.') 

"  This  is  clear,  that  General  Kearney  did  nothing  to  suppress  the 
supposed  mutiny,  and  equally  clear  that  he  gives  no  reason  for  not 
doing  so.  He  was  in  his  own  quarters — in  the  house  where  his 
troops  were  quartered — and  he  testified  that  he  does  not  think  Com- 
modore Stockton  would  have  used  force.  The  inference  is,  that 
either  he  did  not  consider  it  mutiny  then,  or  that  he  had  some  rea- 
son, not  yet  told,  for  not  doing  his  duty.  The  former  is  the  pro- 
bvable  one,  because  it  corresponds  with  the  contemporary  declaration 
of  knowing  no  objection  to  appointing  me  governor,  and  for  the 
further  reason  that  it  appears,  from  his  own  evidence,  that  he  gave 
me,  in  the  month  of  March,  several  orders  to  execute,  implying  trust 
and  confidence,  and  wholly  inconsistent  Avith  his  duty,  under  the 
eighth  article  of  war,  and  wholly  inconsistent  with  military  usage, 
if  he  then  believed  me  to  be  guilty  of  mutiny. 


i  i 


t 


i  m 


■<  I 


1 

I 


'.S 


ft?  ?■' 


-•■II 


24G 


IJFE   AND   SERVICES   OF  JOHN    C.    FREMONT. 


(( 


'  For  tliese  reasons,  I  consider  his  testimony  furtlier  invalidated 
upon  his  own  evidence,  drawn  out  upon  liis  own  examination. 

Tiie  next  circumstance  to  invalidate  the  testimony  of  this  witness, 
arising  out  of  his  own  cross-exannnation,  is  what  relates  to  the 
hearer  of  my  letter  of  tlie  17th  of  January. 

"  In  his  direct  testimony,  General  Kearney  spoke  of  him  as  being 

my  clerk.    As  I  kept  no  clerk,  and  knowing  that  Lieutenant  Talbott 

had  copied  the  letter,  and  tliat  Mr.  Christopher  Carson  had  brought  it 

to  me  (for  in  my  anxiety  at  the  state  of  tilings,  and  hope  for  some 

better  understanding,  I  went  in  such  haste  to  General  Kearney's 

quarters,  on  receiving  his  invitation,  as  to  leave  my  letter  in  the 

hands  of  a  copyist,  to  be  sent  after  me),   I  undertook  to  turn  his 

mind  toward  the  right  person,  by  asking  who  the  person  was  who 

brought  that  letter.     To  that  question  he  answered :  '  I  do  not 

know.     I  had  never  seen  liim  before ;  nor  do  I  know  that  I  have 

ever  seen  him  since.'    I  then  put  the  question  direct :    '  Was  not 

that  person  Mr.  Christopher  Oarson  ?    To  which  the  answer  was : 

'I  think  not.'     This  answc>'  terminated  the  interrogatories  upon  that 

point ;  and,  according  to  the  evidence,  tlie  fact  was  established  that 

not  only  it  was  not  Mr.  Carson  who  brought  the  letter,  but  that  it 

■was  some  strange  person  whom  General  Kearney  liad  never  seen 

before  or  since.     The  defect  of  memory  became  so  glaring  in  this 

instance  that  it  was  deemed  essential  by  my  counsel  to  expose  it ; 

and  something,  like  a  Providence,  enabled  me  to  do  so. 

"Mr.  Carson,  the  best  witness,  had  returned  to  California;  Lieu- 
tenant Talbott,  who  copied  the  letter,  and  sent  him  witli  it,  was  the 
next  best  witness;  and  he  had  been  ordered  to  Mexico  by  sea.  In 
passing  some  of  the  Florida  reefs,  the  vessel  he  Avas  iu  was  wrecked, 
but  the  lives  of  the  passengers  were  saved,  and  Lieutenant  Talbott, 
"with  his  command,  had  returned  to  Charleston.  Hearing  all  this, 
an  order  and  summons  were  dispatched  for  him ;  he  came ;  and, 
being  examined  before  this  court,  he  tostilied  to  the  facts  that  he  had 
copied  the  letter  at  my  request,  and  sent  it  after  me  by  Mr.  Carson 
to  General  Kearney's  quarters.  Captain  Ilensley  gave  corroborating 
testimony ;  and  thus  the  fact  established  by  General  Kearney's  testi- 
mony, that  it  was  not  ^Er.  Carson  who  brought  the  letter,  nor  any 
person  that  General  Kearney  had  ever  seen  before  or  since,  was 
entirely  disproved.  Certainly  the  fact  in  itself,  as  to  who  brought 
the  letter,  was  not  very  material ;  but  it  became  eminently  so  from 
ihe  answers  of  the  witness.     For  General  Kearney  not  to  know  Kit 


i, 


> 


THE   DEFENCE. 


•2-tl 


^ 


Carson ;  not  to  remember  liim  when  lie  broiiglit  the  letter  on  wIucIj 
this  prosecution  is  bnsed  ;  to  swear  that  he  had  never  seen  the  man 
before  or  since,  who  brought  that  letter,,  when  that  man  was  the 
same  express  from  Commodore  Stockton  and  myself  from  whom  he 
got  the  dispatches ;  wliom  he  turned  back  from  the  confines  of  New 
Mexico,  and  made  his  guide  to  California;  tl.e  man  Avho  showed 
him  the  way,  step  by  step,  in  that  long  and  dreary  march ;  who 
was  with  him  in  the  figlit  of  San  Pasqual :  with  him  on  the  besieged 
and  desolate  hill  of  San  Bernardo;  who  volunteered,  with  Lieuten- 
ant Beale  and  the  Indians,  to  go  to  San  Diego  for  relief,  and  whose 
application  to  go  was  at  first  refused,  '  because  he  could  not  spare 
him ;'  who  was  afterwards  the  commander  of  the  scouts  on  the 
march  from  San  Diego  to  Los  Angeles ;  not  to  know  this  man  who 
had  been  his  guide  for  so  many  months,  and  whom  but  few  see  once 
without  remembering ;  and  not  only  not  to  know  him,  but  to  swear 
that  he  had  never  seen  him  before  or  since.  This,  indeed,  was 
exhibiting  an  infirmity  of  memory  almost  amounting  to  no  memory 
at  all. 

"  In  that  point  of  view  ±  present  it  to  the  Court,  and  to  invalidate 
all  the  testimony  of  General  Kearney,  with  respect  to  my  words,  or 
his  words  in  that  alleged  conversation  of  the  17th  of  Januai-y.  Acts 
and  facts  are  more  easily  remembered  than  words ;  persons  and 
things  seen  are  more  easily  remembered  than  expressions  heard; 
and  after  forgetting  his  own  act,  in  writing  to  me  to  come  to  see 
him  on  business;  after  forgetting  the  fact  of  seeing  the  famous  Kit 
Carson  bring  the  letter  which  lie  has  so  long  saved  for  this  prosecu- 
tion, I  am  instructed,  by  counsel,  to  say  that  the  law  discredits  him 
as  a  witness. 

"  Thirdly.    Discredited  by  his  own  conduct. 

"I  hold  that  the  charge  is  discredited  by  General  Kearney's  own 
conduct  at  the  time,  in  not  reporting  it  to  Governor  Stockton  or  to 
the  government  of  tlio  United  States.  In  neither  of  the  two  letters 
written  by  him  to  Governor  Stockton,  on  the  same  day  when  ray 
alleged  oft'er  to  sell  the  California  battalion  to  him  for  a  governorshij., 
accompanied  by  a  menace  of  revolt  against  Governor  Stockton,  is 
testified  to  have  taken  place,  is  the  remotest  hint  or  allusion  to  any 
such  transaction.  Now,  whatever  may  have  been  General  Kearney's 
opinion  of  his  own  rights,  and  of  the  refusal  of  Governor  Stockton 
to  recognize  his  claims,  considerations  of  public  duty  ought  to  liave 


i 


> 


I  ;■  i 


«  i. 


I    1     .i 

mk  U  Mjl 

1 V  |"4' 

iu  '-  ■  1 

J  i'    3 .                  i     i 

1'             1 

-!i  ■   ^    1 

;    ihJ 

248 


LIFE   AND   SERVICES   OF   JOIIN   C.    FREMONT. 


prompted  him,  before  going  away  and  leaving  the  interests  of  the 
country  entirely  in  the  hands  of  Governor  Stockton,  with  a  known 
intention  of  presently  committing  them  to  me,  ought  to  have  induced 
him  to  warn  that  officer  of  my  conduct,  and  threat  of  sedition,  if  any 
such  had  taken  place. 

"Oji  the  other  hand,  if  considerations  of  public  duty  arc  not  the 
motive  that  had  influence  with  him,  but,  instead,  his  i)rivate  resent- 
ments, these  also,  whether  against  Commodore  Stockton,  myself,  or 
both,  would  equally  have  prompted  him  to  tho  disclosure,  had  there 
been  any  to  make ;  for,  if  after  being  informed  of  such  insubordina- 
tion. Governor  Stockton  had  still  persisted  in  his  intentions  towards 
me  (continuing  my  command,  and  leaving  me  in  the  governorship), 
the  witness  would  have  fastened  upon  both  a  corrupt  intrigue  and  col- 
lusion; or,  if  Governor  Stockton  had  acted  uuon  the  information,  as 
would  have  been  i)roj)er  to  act,  and  as  he  probably  Avould  have  a^ted, 
namely  taken  away  my  comiiiand,  and  possibly  seized  my  person,  then 
that  '  uxQUKSTioxABLE  RUIN,'  intimated  as  in  reserve  for  me,  would 
have  been  soon  accomplished. 

"  Had  that  which  is  now  charged  upon  me  actually  taken  place, 
the  suppression  of  the  fact,  at  that  time,  when  fresh  and  working  in 
the  mind  of  the  witness,  as  it  must  have  done,  cannot,  with  tho 
reasons  and  inducements  which  existed  for  its  disclosure,  be  accounted 
for  on  any  known  principle  of  human  conduct. 

"Besides  these  two  letters  to  Governor  Stockton  of  that  day,  both 
silent  on  this  viharge,  the  witness  also  wrote  to  the  War  Department 
on  the  same  day,  and  reporting  both  Governor  Stockton  and  myself, 
as  refusing  to  obey  him,  or  the  instructions  of  the  President ;  and 
neither  in  that  letter  is  there  the  slightest  hint  or  allusion  to  any 
such  transaction  as  General  Kearney  has  now  testified  to. 

'•  Tliere  is  a  case  at  the  Old  Bailey  where  a  person  Avas  convicted 
mid  executed,  mainly  on  the  presumption  which  a  very  similar  omis- 
sion lo  this  raised.  It  was  the  case  of  Governor  Wall,  tried  at  the 
Old  Bailey,  1802,  on  a  charge  of  murder,  committed,  under  color  of 
oiliciiil  duly,  in  tlie  punishment  of  a  soldier  at  Goree,  ofl"  the  coast 
of  Africa,  twenty  years  before. 

"The  soldier  was  punished  Avith  eight  hundred  lashes,  in  conse- 
quence of  which  ho  died  two  days  after.  The  defence  set  up,  Avas, 
that  a  part  of  the  troops  of  the  garrison  Avere  in  a  state  of  mutiny, 
of  which  the  soldier  punished  was  the  ringleader;  and  that  the  pun- 


,1 

1 


n- 


: 


I 


THE   DEFENCE. 


249 


ishment  was  inflicted  under  the  article  of  war  which  requires  an 
oflBcer  present  at  a  mutiny  to  do  iiis  utmost  to  suppress  it. 

"The  prosecution  i)roved  that  Governor  iVall  went  away  from  the 
place  on  the  day  folio  icing  the  alleged  acts  of  mutini/^  and  with  him 
two  officers  ;  and  that^  arriving  in  England^  he  reported,  in  writing^ 
to  the  government  concerning  the  affairs  of  the  garrison  but  made 

NO  MENTION  OF  THE  ALI-EGED  MUTINY. 

"  The  lord  chief  haron,  Mac  Donald,  dwelt  upon  that  omission,  and 
pointed  it  out  to  the  jury.  Tliere  was  other  evidence  on  the  point 
of  MUTINY  or  no  mutiny ;  but  it  was  nearly  balanced,  and  this  omis- 
sion became  the  great  point  in  the  case.  Tlie  governor  was  con- 
victed ;  and  notwithstanding  the  most  powerful  efforts  to  obtain  his 
pardon,  the  king  (George  III.)  refused  to  grant  it;  and  he  was  hung 
at  Tyburn,  according  to  his  sentence,  and  his  body  given  up  to  the 
surgeons  to  be  dissected  and  anatomized. 

"The  presumption  raised  in  tlie  present  instance  is  stronger  than 
in  the  one  I  have  quoted.  There  the  report  referred  only  to  the 
affairs  of  the  garrison  generally  ;  here  it  relates  exclusively  to  the 
subject  now  in  issue.  There,  if  there  had  been  a  mutiny,  there  was 
no  occasion  for  the  action  of  the  government;  for  the  mutiny,  such 
as  it  was,  had  been  suppressed  and  the  nuitincers  punished ;  here  the 
report  was  specially  for  the  action  of  the  government  on  the  case 
stated.  There,  the  omission  was  merely  a  matter  left  out,  not  affect- 
ing, in  any  way,  what  was  put  in ;  here  the  omission  is  of  the  mate- 
rial part,  and  without  Avhich  not  only  an  impeifect  but  a  false  view 
is  given  to  the  whole.  There,  the  letter  was  written  six  weelcs  after 
the  occurrence,  and  at  a  great  distance  from  the  scene  of  it;  here  it 
was  written  on  the  spot — the  same  day.  All  the  reasons  for  General 
Kearney  to  have  reported  my  alleged  mutiny,  and  the  base  motive 
for  it  in  the  imputed  attempted  bargaining  about  the  governorship,  are 
infinitely  stronger  than  in  the  case  of  Governor  Wall.  The  omission 
was  a  heavy  circumstance  against  him  in  this  case;  it  must  be  more 
so  in  the  present  one;  and  authorizes  me  to  say  that  the  testimony 
of  the  witness  here  is  discredited  by  his  own  conduct,  at  the  time 
of  these  imputed  offences. 

^'•Fourthly.  I  now  take  a  more  decided  view  of  this  testimony  in 
relation  to  governorship,  and  say  that  besides  being  imi»robabIe  on 
its  face,  invalidated  on  the  cross-examination,  and  discredited  by  his 
own  conduct,  it  is  disproved  by  facts  and  witnesses,     Tlie  imputed 

11* 


i»l 


i 


250 


LIFE   AND   SKRVICK8   OF   JOHN    C.    FRKMONT. 


m  ■ 


!>       I 


bargaining  for  the  governorsliip  is  the  point  of  the  mutiny  and  the 
base  and  sordid  cause  of  it.  Now,  if  there  was  no  bargaining,  or 
attempt  at  it,  for  the  governorsliip,  tlien  tliere  was  no  mutiny;  and 
the  wliole  charge,  witli  its  imputed  motive  and  inferences,  falls  to 
the  ground.  And,  now,  liow  was  the  fact?  That  as  early  as 
August,  1840,  Governor  Stockton,  of  liis  own  head,  selected  me  for 
his  successor  as  governor  and  commander-in-chief  in  California. 
That  he  informed  me  of  it  at  the  time  by  letter,  and  also  informed 
the  government  of  the  United  States  of  it,  and  had  actually  fixed 
the  25th  day  of  October,  1846,  for  his  own  return  to  his  squadron, 
and  for  my  installation  as  governor,  and  was  only  delayed  in  that 
intention  by  the  breaking  out  of  the  insurrection.  That  he  informed 
General  Kearney  of  all  this  at  San  Diego,  by  giving  him  a  copy  of 
his  official  dispatch  to  the  government  to  read ;  that,  arriving  at 
Los  Angeles  in  January,  he  immediately  proceeded  to  consummate 
his  delayed  intention,  making  all  preparations  for  his  own  departure 
and  for  my  installation,  appointing  me  governor  in  form,  appoint- 
ing a  secretary  of  my  ehoice,  appointing  the  council,  immediately 
filling  up  my  place  in  the  California  battalion  by  promoting  Captain 
Gillespie  to  be  major;  and  all  these  things  done  and  completed  by 
the  Ifith,  and  so  known  generally  at  the  time,  and  actually  known  to 
General  Kearnej'  himself,  as  appears  by  his  own  letter,  of  that  date, 
to  'acting  Governor  Stockton,' forbidding  the  appointments;  and 
also  by  his  cross-examination  before  this  court. 

"  The  following  are  passages  from  the  letter: 

" '  I  am  informed  that  you  are  now  engaged  in  organizing  a  civil 
government,  and  appointing  officers  for  it  in  this  territory.'  'If 
you  have  not  such  authority  (from  the  President),  I  then  demand 
that  you  cease  all  further  proceedings  relating  to  the  formation  of 
a  civil  government  for  this  territory,  as  I  cannot  recognize  in  you 
any  right  in  assuming  to  perform  duties  confided  to  me  by  tlie  Pre- 
sident.'— (Tenth  day.) 

"  The  cross-examination  of  the  same  day  fi'.lly  sustains  the  asser- 
tion that,  on  the  16th,  General  Ke^arney  knew  that  Governor  Stock- 
ton was  appointing  the  governor  and  secretary  for  California,  and 
his  letter  to  the  department,  of  the  sanvi  date  (16th),  shows  that 
he  not  only  knew  it,  but  reported  it.  Thepe  facts  disprove  the 
assertion  that,  on  the  l7th,  I  asked  General  Kearney  for  the  gov- 
ernorship of  California;  disprove  the  assertion  that  I  would  see 


J\-: 


THK   DEFENCE. 


251 


' 


L 


Oommodore  Stockton,  find,  unless  he  gave  it  at  once,  I  would  not 
obey  his  orders.  The  fju-ts  disprove  it,  for  nil  the  forms  of  bestow- 
ing the  appointment  had  been  comjdeted  the  day  before,  while  the 
appointment  itself  had  been  virtually  and  actually  made  for  near  nix 
months  before. 

"I  will  now  proceed  to  the  positive  testimony  of  an  unimpeached 
and  unimpcaidiable  witness,  to  disprove  the  testimony  of  General 
Kearney  in  rehition  to  this  governorship. 

''Colonel  Wm,  II.  Russell,  a  Avitness  introduced  on  the  thirty-sixth 
day  of  the  trial,  testified  that  ho  was  sent  by  Lieutenant  Colonel 
Fremont  from  the  jjlains  of  C.ouenga,  about  the  13th  of  January,  to 
Los  Angeles,  to  ascertain  who  was  in  chief  command,  and  to  make 
report  of  the  cai)itulation  of  Couenga.  I  leave  out,  at  this  time,  all 
notice  of  his  testimony,  cxce])t  what  relates  to  the  governorship. 
He  fiays  he  went  first  to  General  Kearney's  quarters  ;  afterwards  to 
Oommodore  Stockton's;  returned,  by  invitation  of  General  Kearney, 
and  supped  and  slept  at  his  quarters.  On  liis  return  the  chief  con- 
versation took  place,  and  now  the  very  words  of  the  witness  shall 
be  given.  Colonel  Russell  says :  '  In  that  conversation  he  (General 
Kearney)  expressed  great  pleasure  at  Colonel  Fremont's  being  in 
the  country  ;  spoke  of  his  eminent  qualifications  for  the  office  of 
governor,  from  his  knowledge  of  the  Spanish  language,  of  the 
manners  of  the  people,  itc;  and  of  his  (General  Kearney's)  intention 
to  have  appointed  him  governor,  if  the  instructions  he  brought 
from  the  Secretary  of  War  had  been  recognized  in  California.' 
'  It  (the  conversation  about  the  governorship),  was  a  subject  of  very 
much  conversation,  protracted  to  a  late  hour  in  the  night.  He  told 
me  of  his  civil  appointments  in  New  Mexico,  and  of  his  determina- 
tion to  have  appointed  Colonel  Fremont  governor.'  '  He  said  that 
so  soon  as  he  could  organize  a  civil  government,  it  was  his  intention 
to  return  to  the  United  States,  and  finding  so  suitable  a  person  aa 
Colonel  Fremont  in  the  country  to  take  the  place  of  governor,  his 
design  need  not  be  long  postponed.  I  do  not  protend  to  quote  hia 
exact  words,' 

"On  the  th",  thirty-eighth  day  of  the  trial,  and  after  objections  to 
certain  questions  to  Colonel  Russell  had  been  sustained  by  the 
court,  his  direct  examination  was  resumed,  and  he  testified  (after 
stating  that  he  rode  out  the  next  morning  and  met  Lieut.  Colonel 
Fremont,  then  entering  Los  Angeles,  at  the  head  of  bis  battalion), 


I 


!r»2 


mkl;  ano  sruvicKri  of  joiin  v.  fkkmont. 


1'  r ' 


I   ?': 


I!; 


tH: 


'  I  informed  him  (Lieutenant  CVilonel  Fremont)  that  both  Qoneral 
Kearney  and  Commodore  Stocikton  were  anxious  to  confer  upon  him 
tlio  office  of  Ciovernor,  and  liis  only  difficulty  would  be  in  the  choice 
between  them.'  '  Commodore  Stockton  inlbrmed  me,  on  the  eve- 
niiij,'  of  the  13tli,  on  my  second  interview  with  him,  that  ho  intended 
to  confer  the  office  of  f,'overnor  on  Lieuteiumt  Colonel  Fremont,  as 
J  understood,  innnediatvly  on  his  arrival  at  Los  Angeles.  I  think  it 
was  u  matter  of  ordinary  i)ublicity  throughout  the  city.'  '  On  the 
nu)rning,  as  I  supijose,  of  the  10th,  I  was  at  Commodore  Stockton's 
fliinrters,  and  ho  informed  me  that  the  commission  for  Lieutenant 
Colonel  Fremont  as  governor,  and  my  own  as  secretary  of  state, 
were  then  in  the  act  of  being  nuide  out  by  his  clerk,  and  desired 
me  to  ask  Lieutenant  Colonel  Fremont  to  bo  at  his  (quarters  by  a 
given  hour,  when  the  commissions  would  be  ready  for  delivery. 
I  made  this  counnunication  to  Lieutenant  Colonel  Fremont,  and  at 
the  appointed  time  returned  with  him  to  Commodore  Stockton's 
quarters,  when  he  (the  commodore)  accordingly  handed  the  com- 
missions to  each  of  us. 

"  '  I  want  to  qualify  here,  as  I  am  told  there  is  some  discrepancy 
about  dates.  I  presume  it  was  the  IGth,  because  the  connnissions 
bear  that  date,  and  for  the  further  reason  that  it  was  within  two  or 
three  days  of  the  arrival  of  Lieutenant  Colonel  Fremont  at  Los 
Angeles.'     Tliis  was  on  the  direct  examination. 

"  On  the  cross-examination,  on  the  fortieth  day  of  the  trial,  the 
witness  (Colonel  Russell)  in  reply  to  questions,  confirmed  all  that 
lie  had  said,  and  added  :  '  That  in  all  the  conversations  I  had  with 
General  Kearney  on  that  evening  13th  January),  I  understood  it 
to  be  his  wish  to  ai)i)oint  Lieutenant  Colonel  Fremont  as  governor, 
if  he  could  rightfully  do  so.' 

"  And  thus,  I  say  that  the  testimony  of  General  Kearney  is  dis- 
proved by  the  positive  testimony  of  an  unirapeached,  an  unimpeach- 
able witness,  as  well  as  by  established  facts. 

"  Fifthly.  I  say  that  this  statement,  that  I  asked  General  Kearney 
for  the  governorship,  is  disavowed  by  the  entire  tenor  of  my  life. 
I  have  neither  begged  nor  bargained  for  offices.  My  first  appoint- 
ment, as  second  lieutenant  of  topographical  engineers,  was  given 
me  by  President  Jackson,  Mr.  Poinsett  being  Secretary  at  War, 
when  I  was  far  distant  on  the  Upper  Mississippi,  assisting  M.  Ni- 
collet in  his  groflt  survey  of  that  region.    My  brevet  of  captain 


THE   DEFENCE. 


253 


it 


5y 

e. 


i- 


was  given  mo  by  President  Tyler,  Air.  Wilkins  being  Secretary  at 
War,  without  solicitation  from  myself  or  fnends.  The  appoint- 
ment of  lii'Utenant  colonel  eame  to  me  in  California,  when  I  was 
not  even  thinking  of  it;  aiul  I  am  assured  by  Senator  iieiiton,  that 
it  was  President  Polk's  own  act,  not  only  unasked  by  him,  but  tiuit 
ho  refused  to  consent  that  any  friend  should  name  such  u  thing  to 
the  President. 

"The  three  appointments  given  to  me  by  Commodore  Stockton 
(those  of  major  of  the  California  battalion,  military  commandant 
of  California,  and  governor  and  connnander-in-cinef,  in  California), 
were  all  given  of  his  own  head,  without  solicitation  or  hint  from 
me.  Such  Las  been  the  uniform  tenor  of  my  life  in  respect  to 
office,  and  General  Kearney  is  no  exception  to  it. 

"  The  uniform  conduct  of  my  life  disavows  the  application  which 
he  says  I  made  to  him  ;  and  I  claim  the  benefit  of  that  disavowal 
in  a  case  where  a  recpiest  Avould  be  infamous,  which  I  never  made, 
when  it  might  have  been  done  with  lionor. 

"  Sixthly.  Having  shown  that  this  testimony  of  General  Kearney 
is  improbable  on  its  face,  invalidated  on  his  own  cross-exanunation, 
discredited  by  his  own  conduct,  disaproved  by  positive  testimony, 
and  disavowed  by  the  tenor  of  my  life,  I  now  come  to  the  last,  and 
only  remaining  species  of  testimony — that  of  my  own  declaration. 
Ilappil}^  I  have  no  new  declaration  to  make ;  1  have  oidy  to  show 
the  statement  which  I  made  for  the  eye  of  private  friendship,  in 
the  mere  course  of  narrative,  and  as  a  circumstance  in  the  history 
of  the  transaction,  near  twelve  months  ago,  when  the  event  was 
fresh,  no  question  about  it,  and  none  of  any  kind  ever  expected. 
In  that  private  letter  to  Senator  Benton,  already  referred  to,  written 
at  Los  Angeles,  and  dated  the  3d  day  of  February,  1847,  are  these 
words : 

'■'•'' Bot7i  offei'ed  me  the  commission  and  post  of  (j  over  nor  ;  Com- 
modore Stockton^  to  redeem  his  pledge  to  that  effect.^  immediately^ 
ami  General  Kearney  offering  to  give  the  commission  in  four  or  six 
weel-s.'' 

This  is  what  I  then  wrote  for  the  eye  of  private  friendship,  and 
what  I  now  produce  to  this  court  as  my  own  testimony  in  this  case. 
IT  IS  TRUE.  And  I  now  owe  it  to  myself,  to  my  friends,  and 
to  good  men,  whose  esteem  I  desire  to  possess,  to  declare,  and  to 
make  the  declaration  upon  responsibilities  infinitely  Higher   than 


,«;.     !. 


I 


254 


UFK    AN'I)   HIOKVICKS    OF   JOHN    C.    FRKMoNT. 


fir 

Jill     ii 
*•  j ,  f  i  '  ■ 


1;^ 


'1 


!     !  r:! 


I'  i 
I  • 

li'l  ■ 

1: 

ii 

'  .11  ; 


i' 


m; 


thaso  of  niilitfti*y  lionor  or  coinnilsHioii,  that  JJi-i^fadicr  (Joiicral 
Keiirney,  in  all  tluit  ho  has  tostiflcd  in  rolutii)n  to  this  g<)vernoi>|iij), 
has  borne  liilso  witness  ajrainst  ino. 

"I  dismiss  this  topic,  tiio  only  ono  in  tlio  nuiUiplIi'd  "liurges 
apiinst  nio  whii;h  concerns  iny  honor,  with  the  retlection  which 
Bi)rin>,'s  of  itself  from  the  case  and  linds  a  response  in  every  n'ener- 
ous  mind,  that  General  Keariie}  himself  un(lertt)ok  U>  sednj'o  me 
with  this  governorship,  and  failing'  to  do  so,  lias  raised  against  me 
the  false  accusation  of  applying  to  him  for  it,  and  has  sworn  to  it. 

"And  I  here  close  my  defence,  both  as  to  the  fact  rtnd  the  nH)tive, 
of  specitication  first,  in  charge  tirst,  for  the  crime  of  mutiny. 

"I  proceed  now  to  defend  the  same  act  under  a  ditlerent  charge; 
for  it  so  happens  in  this  trial  that  the  same  set  of  actts  are  placed 
under  difterent  charges,  some  under  two  charges,  namely,  mutiny 
and  disobedience  of  orders ;  and  some  under  three,  the  same  act, 
in  some  instances,  being  carried  out  under  the  charge  of  conduct 
prejudicial  to  good  order  and  discii^ine,  an  well  as  under  the  heads 
of  mutiny  and  disobedience  of  orders. 

"I  refer  t(^  a  paper,  heretofore  filed,  for  the  opinion  which  my 
counsel  entertain  of  these  multiplied  (>harges  upon  the  same  sot  of 
acts.  They  consider  them  as  so  many  ditlerent  trials  fi»r  the  same 
thing,  and  wholly  unjustified  by  the  practice  which  admits  less 
degrees  of  the  same  oftence  to  be  found,  according  to  the  proof 
produced  on  the  trial.  Here  the  charges  are  on  the  same  acts  for 
ditferent  kinds  of  otYences,  and  the  same  evidence  adduced  under 
each,  and  the  same  that  was  adduced  before  the  trial,  when  the 
charges  were  framed,  as  before  this  court,  when  they  are  tried. 
My  counsel  instruct  mo  to  say  it  is  a  clear  case  of  two  trials  and 
three  trials  for  the  same  matter ;  but  I  take  no  legal  objection 
to  it. 

"  To  save  the  labor  of  re-stating  questions,  and  of  re-producing 
proofs  as  many  times  as  the  same  s[)ecifications  are  repeated  under 
diflfercnt  charges,  I  prefer  to  i)iirsue  each  one,  when  I  begin  it, 
through  all  the  charges;  and  tlius  finish  with  it  complete,  and  have 
all  my  trials  over  upon  it,  before  I  begin  with  another.  This 
method  will  be  conveTiient  to  me,  and  probably  no  disadvantage  to 
the  prosecution,  as  it  will  get  all  the  chances  of  conviction,  which 
the  multiplied  charges  require,  though,  perhaps,  not  in  the  order 
they  wonld  regularly  imply. 


m 


TlIK   DEFENCE. 


"I  bo^in  with  my  letter  to  Ootioral  Koiirnoy,  of  tlio  17tli  of  Janu- 
nry,  -Nvliicli  he  pi-odiicfs  niKh'r  the  charfj;*'  of  disohedieiice  of  oimUts, 
ns  well  as  under  that  ol'  mutiny,  and  as  I'viih'iico  to  pi-ove  hotli,  atul 
whicli  I  j)n»(hi('e  as  eoutiiiuiuj?  the  facts  and  tlie  law  which  dis[»rovo 
each.  Tlult  letter  is  ill  these  words.  (See  letter  of  Juti.  17,  lst7,  p.  l'.>2.) 

"Tills  letter  was  .signed  in  the  (juarters  of  (ieiieral  Kearney,  and 
in  his  prosonee,  and  delivered  to  him  hy  myself,  lie  read  it  in  my 
presence,  and  has  produced  it  liere  as  cvi<lenco  against  mo,  and,  in 
so  doing,  has  made  it  evidence  against  himself.  What  he  did  not 
then  deny,  he  admitted;  and  I  will  show,  from  his  own  testimony, 
that  that  is  the  case  with  the  whole  letter,  lie  contradicted  no  part 
of  it,  therefore  ho  admitted  every  part  of  it;  and  this  results  from 
his  own  swearing,  in  which  ho  professes  to  give  an  exact  verbal 
account,  no  more,  no  less,  of  all  that  passed  at  that  interview,  of 
the  letter,  from  my  «/i/n(/(C(?,  at  the  beginning,  to  my  c,ri7  at  tlieend; 
and  not  (jne  word  of  my  lettcn*  contradicted  in  the  whole  account.  I 
will  now  analyze  its  statements  of  law  and  fact,  so  far  as  they  apply 
to  this  charge  of  disobedience  of  orders,  and  show  it  to  be  a  com- 
plete refutation  of  the  charge  foun<le<l  upon  it.  The  letter  is  the 
text  of  my  defence,  and  the  development  of  its  positions  will  make 
its  leading  argument.  I  am  advised  by  counsel  that  it  is  complete  in 
itself,  and  such  as  it  was  written  that  morning,  needs  no  aid  from 
subsequent  retlection  or  legal  advice;  and  on  that  letter,  as  it  is, 
both  for  the  law  and  the  fact,  I  stand  all  the  multiplied  trials  which 
are  founded  upon  it. 

'■''First.  It  fixes  the  time  of  sending  the  countermanding  order  to 
me — a  most  material  point  Avhich  could  not  be  fixed  by  any  exami- 
nation, or  cross-examination  of  General  Kcirney.  All  the  multi- 
plied questions  put  to  him,  and  by  all  f>arties,  the  judge  advocate,  my- 
self, and  the  court,  left  the  time  of  the  day  uncertain,  and  led  to  a 
wrong  time,  as  being  at  some  period  of  the  day,  and  even  the  fore 
part  of  the  day,  of  the  16th  of  January.  (See  8th  and  9th  days  of  the 
testimony.)  My  letter  fixes  the  time;  it  opens  with  fixing  it.  It 
fixes  it  to  the  night.  The  first  line  acknowledges  the  receipt  of 
yonr  favor  (/.  e.  the  countermanding  order)  of  last  night.  No 
denial  was  made  of  having  sent  this  order  at  night;  and  thus  that 
period  was  confessed. 

"  Second.  It  fixes  the  character  in  which  I  myself  was  then  acting, 
and  a  knowledge  of  which  was  so  material  to  the  case,  and  so  dif  • 
ficult  to  be  obtained  from  the  prosecuting  witness.     It  shows  that 


\t    iii 


m  .  !;! 


Ji!   ! 


256 


LIFE   AND   SERVICES   OF   JOHN    C.    FUEMONT. 


I  was  military  commaiiclant  of  the  territory;  and  that  the  order  I 
was  required  to  cease  from  executing  was  an  order  in  relation  to  the 
battalion  under  niy  command  as  military  commandant.  It  fixes 
the  fact  that  the  order  came  to  me  in  that  capacity;  for  so  my  let- 
ter asserts,  and  it  was  not  conti*adieted  by  General  Kearney  when 
read  by  him. 

''  Third.  It  fixes  the  character  of  Commodore  Stockton  in  giving 
me  the  order  to  reorganize  the  battalion  ;  for  it  names  him  as  giving 
the  order,  and  describes  him  as  governor  and  commander-in-chief 
in  California. 

"  Fourth.  It  fixes  the  fact  that  on  my  arrival  at  Los  Angeles  (14th 
January),  Commodore  Stsckton  was  exercising  the  functions  of  civil 
and  military  governor  with  aj^parent  deference  to  take  his  rank  by 
General  Kearney,  for  that  is  asserted  in  the  letter,  and  was  not  con- 
tradicted by  him. 

'■'■Fifth.  It  also  fixes  the  fact  thnt,  on  the  march  from  San  Diego 
to  Los  Angeles,  General  Kearney  discharged  duties  imjtlying  the 
supremacy  of  Commodore  Stockton ;  for  tliat  is  asserted  to  have 
been  learnt  by  me,  from  conversations  with  General  Kearney  him- 
self, and  was  not  denied  by  him. 

"  These  im[)ortant  facts,  five  in  number,  are  fixed  and  established 
by  the  letter ;  for  tliey  were  not  denied  when  the  letter  was  read.  I 
am  advised  by  council  that  the  law  takes  for  confessed  whatever  is 
said  to  a  man  in  his  presence,  and  not  contradicted,  at  the  time,  by 
him.  General  Kearney's  testimony,  professing  to  give  a  full  account 
of  all  that  was  aid,  on  both  sides,  during  the  whole  interview  at 
the  reception  of  the  letter,  is  silent  upon  all  these  i)oints;  and  it  is 
too  late  now  to  think  of  contradicting  what  was  then,  by  all  the  rules 
of  evidence,  irrevocably  admitted.  That  letter  and  its  delivery  in 
his  presei'ce,  and  being  read  in  my  presence,  besides  containing  the 
facts  of  the  case,  and  the  law  of  the  case,  becomes  also  the  evi'lence 
of  the  case.  If  that  order  had  not  been  written  or  sent  in  the 
nighty  that  was  the  time  for  General  Kearney  Ur  have  saiil  so.  If 
the  order  had  not  been  intended  for  me,  in  my  capacity  of  miUtary 
comman(h(rit  of  the  territory.,  that  was  the  time  for  him  to  ha^'O 
corrected  n',y  cror.  If  Commodore  Stockton  was  not  then  governor 
and  commander-in-chief  in  California^  then  was  the  time  for  hiin 
to  have  told  me  so.  If  Commodore  Stockton  had  not  been  exercising 
the  functions  of  r,iilitary  commander  and  ciril  governor.,  from  the 
month  of  July  preceding,  then  was  the  time  for  him  to  have  contra* 


I 


THE   DEFENCE. 


ing 
Hie 
ra- 


257 


dieted  the  assertion  of  it  in  my  letter.  If  I  liad  not  found  the  comrao- 
dT)re  exercising  tlie  samefunctlons  on  my  arrival  at  Los  Angeles,  three 
days  before,  witli  ai)i)arent  deference  on  the  part  of  all  officers,  Gen- 
eral Kearney  inclusive,  tliatwas  the  time  for  him  to  have  denied  the 
assertion,  or,  at  all  events,  to  have  protested  against  the  inclusion 
of  himself  in  that  obedient  and  deferential  class  of  officers.  If  I  had 
not  learnt  in  conversation  Avith  himself  that,  in  the  march  from  San 
Diego,  and  also  there,  at  Los  Angeles,  he  had  not  entered  upon  and 
discliarged  duties  implying,  o«- 7iii«^;a7'^,  an  acknowledgment  of  Com- 
modore Stockton's  swprevuicy  then  "vvas  the  time  for  him  to  have 
told  me  that  I  labored  under  a  total  mistake  in  my  misunderstand- 
ing of  his  conversations. 

''  If  there  was  no  question  of  ranlc  then  (on  the  17th ">  depending 
between  himself  and  Governor  Stockton,  he  ought  to  have  said  so. 
If  it  had  not  been  right  for  me  to  remain  as  I  was  until  they 
adjusted  that  question^  then  was  the  time  for  him  to  say  so  to  me. 
If  the  difficulty  Avas  not  between  the  two  superiors  alone,  then  wa3 
the  time  for  him  to  have  cast  it  upon  me.  If  I  had  ever  reported 
to  him,  or  received  orders  from  him,  surely  it  was  the  time  to  tell 
me  so  when  he  was  reading  that  last  paragraph  of  my  letter,  in 
which  the  contrary  is  asserted  in  the  declaration,  that  I  should  have 
to  report  and  to  receive  orders  '■as  heretofore^''  from  Commodore 
Stockton.  If  all,  or  any  of  these  points  Avere  not  true,  t7icn  Avas 
the  time^  and  there  Avas  the  jdace,  and  that  Avas  the  occasion.,  to 
have  denied  them.  Denial,  omitted  then,  cannot  be  supplied  noAV. 
And  both  lavA^,  reason,  and  justice,  require  ray  uncontradicted  letter 
of  that  day  to  remain  as  established  truth  in  the  question  between 
General  Kearney  and  myself. 

"  Clear  and  strong  in  its  facts,  the  letter  is  equally  just  and  legal 
in  its  conclusions.  It  does  not  refuse  obedience  to  General  Kearney, 
but  defers  it  until  he  aud  Connnodore  Stockton  adjust  the  question 
of  rank  betAvcen  themselves ;  it  respectfully  suggests  to  him  that 
the  settlenient  of  the  difficulty  belongs  to  himself  and  Commodore 
Sto.-ktun;  and  concludes  Avith  stating  that  until  this  rank  is  so 
adjusted,  I  Avould  have  to  report  and  receive  orders,  as  heretofore, 
from  Connnodore  Stockton.  Noav  all  this,  I  am  advised  by  counsel, 
is  both  law  and  reason;  and  to  prove  this  laAV,  and  this  reason,  is 
noAV  my  duty  before  this  court. 

••'  I  proceed  to  do  it : 


1] 


Wl 


li 


:■«; 


ii^a 


258 


LIFE    AND    Si:UVR'KS    OF    JOHN    (\     KKKMONT 


fei 


^'- First.  It  rthoAv.s  that  there  was  fi  question  of  rank  admitted  by 
General  Kearney  to  be  depending  between  biiiiscll'  and  Conmiodtn'o 
Stockton.  He  -wished  to  settle  it  by  givin;^  Tne  a  contradictory 
order.  1  de-dined  the  responsibility,  and  I  think  ri;fhtfidly.  For, 
in  the  first  place,  it  is  not  for  the  subordinate  to  decide  between 
his  superiors,  lie  lias  no  legal  power  to  do  so  ;  no  legal  ])ower  to 
reijuire  submission  from  the  one  decided  against;  and  if  he  used 
physical  force,  it  might  indeed  be  a  case  of  mutiny,  and  thiii  in  its 
proi)er  sense  of  a  military  rebellion.  IJesides,  decide  which  Avay  ho 
might,  his  danger  would  be  the  same.  Having  no  right  or  power 
to  decide  between  them — my  duty  being  ])assive  and  not  active — 
the  only  safe  or  legal  course  open  to  mo  was  to  remain  as  I  was, 
repoi'ting  to,  and  receiving  orders  from  Commodore  St(H'kton.  I 
C(.>nsidered  the  question  to  lie  between  the  two  superiors,  and  that 
seems  to  be  their  own  opinion  of  it,  from  their  corresj)ondence  at 
the  time  (l(5th  and  iTtli  of  January).  The  concluding  words  of 
General  Koarnoy's  letter  to  Commodoro  Stockton,  of  the  17th  of 
January  (eighth  day  of  the  trial)  are  express  to  that  point.  Those 
words  are  too  material  to  paraphrase  or  ])ut  ofF  with  a  reference; 
they  are  these : 

"  ^Jful  as  I  am  prepared  to  carry  out  the  PrcsiJenVs  instructiom 
to  iiu\  which  you  oppose,  I  must,  for  the  purpose  of  prerenting  a  col- 
lision between  its,  and  possih/y  to  prevent  a  civil  war  in  conseqfknor 
of  it.  renK'in  Ru.K'ST  for  the  thesext,  leaviixj  loith  you  the  great 
i{K.si'oNsn!ii.iTY  of  doiii'^  THAT  for  which  you  hate  no  authority,  and 
PKEVKNTiNG  ME  froui  comphjiiuj  irith  the  President's  orders.' 

"This  extract  and  the  whole  contemporaneous  correspondence 
between  the  two  sujicrior  olficers,  beginning  at  San  Diego  Avhen  1 
was  on  the  marchfrom  Monterey,  shows  that  the  contest  was  between 
them  ;  and  it  shows  also  the  serious  point  at  which  it  had  arrived. 
The  time  of  writing  the  letter,  from  which  this  extract  is  taken,  is 
now  the  material  point,  and  that  was  sufliciently  ascertained  on 
the  cros;-o\aminati(in  oi  General  Kearney  on  the  eighth  day.  It 
Avas  ascertained  to  have  been  Avritteu  after  my  refusal  to  obey  him 
again-t  Commodore  Stockton.  The  conclusion  is  inevitable.  That 
refusal  pn'\ented  the  collision  and  the  ciril  war  which  the  letter 
iiu'utioned,  as  being  for  the  present  prevented.  I  prevented  it, 
'My  reward  has  been  to  have  the  Avar  directed  against  myself,  and 
to  be  tried  for  capital  and  inf;mious  crimes,  Avith  base  and  sordid 
motives  atti-ibuted  to  me. 


THE   DEFENCK. 


259 


klonce 
len  1 
weeii 
ived. 

[en,  is 
(1  on 
.  It, 
lum 
Tii.'iL 
ettcr 
■d  it. 
and 
brdid 


"The  question  now  is  disobedience  of  orders — the  order  not  to 
re-orf^anize  tbe  CiilUbrniii  battMlion  beinj^  the  speciticution. 

"  In  tlie  liriti.sh  service,  from  wkose  rides  and  articles  of  war  our 
own  are  copied,  and  wliere  there  is  a  judge  advtcate  general  to 
direct  court  martial  proceedings  witli  uniformity,  the  cliaracter  or 
qualities  of  the  order,  disobedience  to  which  is  criminal,  are  already 
defmcd.  At  jage  8!)  of  Hough,  edition  of  1825,  is  found  tliis  defi- 
nation  of  sucn  an  order  : 

"In  the  absolute  resistance  of,  or  refusal  of  obedience  to,  a  pre- 
sent aiul  urgent  command,  conveyed  either  orally  or  in  irrltinff^ 
and  directed  to  be  obeyed  with  promptitude,  by  the  non-complianco 
with  whi(!h  some  immediate  act  necessary  to  be  done  might  bo 
imi)eded  or  defeated,  as  high  an  offence  is  discoverable  as  can  well 
be  contemplated  l)y  the  military  mind;  inasmuch  as  the  principle 
which  it  holds  out,  would,  if  encouraged  or  not  suppressed  by  some 
heavy  penalty,  forbid  or  i)reclude  a  reliance  on  the  execution  of  any 
military  measure.  It  is  this  positive  disobedience,  therefore,  evinc- 
ing a  refractory  spirit  in  the  infkuiok,  an  active  oi)[)osition  to  the 
commands  of  a  supujiiou,  against  which  it  must  be  sui)posed  the 
severe  {>enalty  of  the  article  is  principally  directed.' 

"From  this  definition  of  the  kind  of  order  Avhich  the  rules  and 
articles  of  war  contem[>late,  it  is  clear  that  it  is  not  every  order,  and 
merely  because  it  is  an  order,  given  by  a  superior  to  an  inferior, 
that  entitles  itself  to  implicit  obedience.  On  the  contrary  it  must 
have  certain  indispensable  requisites  to  entitle  itself  to  that  obedi- 
ence ;  and  among  these  are:  1st,  legality;  2d,  necessary  for  the 
public  service;  3d,  urgent;  by  the  non-compliance  with  which 
some  immediate  act  necessary  to  be  done  is  defeated  or  impeded ; 
and  that  the  disobedience  must  be  of  a  kind  to  evince  a  refractory 
spirit. 

"  I  have  to  answer  that  the  order  given  by  General  K.  possessed 
none  of  these  requisites,  and  that  disobedience  drew  after  it  no 
injury  to  the  public  service,  and  that  my  refusal  to  obey  it  was  not 
in  a  refractory  spirit. 

"1.  It  was  not  a  legal  order,  and  this  for  reasons  which  I  shall 
fully  show  in  the  proper  place. 

"  2.  It  was  a  mere  experimental  order  of  contradiction,  to  try  a 
question  of  rank,  and  against  the  public  service,  as  the  state  of  the 
battalion  required  it  to  be  re-orgauized,  the  time  for  which  many  of 


:l 


-?i  ■ 


>w 


f 'M 


Hi 


;f'i 


fri- 


260 


LIFE   AND   SERVICES   OF   JOHN   0.    FREMONT. 


tlie  men  and  officers  were  engaged  Ij.aving  expired,  and  to  give  it  a 
major  in  the  place  of  niysell',  made  governor. 

'"'•'3.  So  far  from  being  for  the  p-ublic  service,  it  wonhl  seem  from 
the  sentence  in  General  Kearney's  letter  to  Commodore  Stockton  of 
the  17th  of  January  (already  quoted),  in  relation  to  a  collision  be- 
tween them,  and  possibly  a  civil  war,  that  the  battalion  was  wanted 
for  forcibly  asserting  his  right  to  the  governorship  against  Commo- 
dore Stockton.  The  letter  can  have  no  other  meaning;  and  this 
interpretation  of  it  is,  moreover,  borne  out  by  his  letter  of  the  same 
date  to  the  department,  by  Ids  testimony  before  tlie  court,  and  by 
the  testimony  of  IJeutenant  Emory. 

"4.  The  battalion  was  not,  and  never  had  been,  under  the  orders 
of  General  Kearney ;  was  not  such  troops  as  his  instructions  con- 
templated, and  several  of  its  offi3ers  were  from  the  navy,  over  whom 
he  could  have  no  control. 

"5.  General  Kearney  was,  at  the  time  of  giving  the  order,  sus- 
pended fi'om  the  command  of  the  forces  at  that  place  by  order  of 
Governor  Stockton. 

"  6.  If  not  suspended  at  the  time  he  wrote  and  sent  the  order, 
tken  he  was  himself  in  mutiny  against  his  own  commander,  and 
endeavoring  to  induce  me  '  to  join '  in  it,  and  thus  Avas  in  the  com- 
mission of  the  double  offence  of  mutiny  himself,  and  endeavoring 
to  make  another  join  him  in  it. 

''  7.  General  Kearney  has  not  shown  for  what  purpose  he  gave  the 
order  against  re-organization,  but  it  appears  evident  it  was  for  an 
uidaAvful  purpose,  to  wit,  for  the  purpose  of  keeping  the  battalion 
together  in  his  own  hands  to  be  used  against  Gov.  Stockton.  On 
bis  cross-examination  (eiglith  day)  he  seems  to  have  known  nothing 
about  what  he  was  doing  in  giving  this  order,  on  which  I  am  now 
doubly  prosecuted.  To  the  question:  '■Did  you  know  what  was 
tke  nature  of  the  re-organization  commanded  by  Gove;  nor  Stockton, 
of  the  l»attalion  under  Lieutenant  Colonel  Fremont,  and  forbid  by 
you?'  he  answered,  '  1  do  not.  I  learned  that  Commodore  Stockton 
was  about  to  re-organize  that  battalion,  and  I  forbid  it.'  Thus,  a 
battalion  raised,  officered,  commands  d,  and  organized  by  Governor 
Stockton,  and  being  a  part  of  his  forces  for  the  conquest,  preserva- 
tion, and  government  of  California,  was  forbid  to  be  r^-organized 
by  General  Kearney,  without  knoAving  what  the  actual  organization 
was,  or  Avhat  the  re-organization  Avould  be.     He  heard  something 


!   i 


ir 


THE   DEFENCE. 


261 


|hus,  a 
'ornor 
iserva- 
Imized 
|zati()n 
;Cbiiig 


was  to  be  done — he  knew  not  what — and  he  forbid  it.  Surely  he 
should  tell  what  purpose  he  had  in  view. 

"8.  It  was  an  order  Ihat  I  could  not  obey  without  rebelling 
against  the  authority  by  wliich  the  battalion  was  raised  and  from 
which  I  held  my  commission  as  its  commander. 

"From  all  this  it  apj)ears  that  the  order  not  to  re-organize  the 
battalion  has  none  of  the  requisites  of  an  order  entitled  to  obedience ; 
that  it  was  not  a  lawful  order;  that  it  was  not  intended  for  the 
public  service;  that  there  was  no  necessity  for  it;  that  no  injury  to  the 
public  service  accrued  from  non-obedience  to  it;  that  tiie  refusal  to 
obey  it,  so  far  from  being  in  a  refractory  spirit,  was  a  mere  determi- 
nation to  remain  as  I  was,  and  as  1  had  been,  under  Commodore  Stock- 
ton's com.mand,  until  my  superiors  settled  their  own  dispute.  And  I  am 
now  advised  by  counsel  to  say  that  that  decision  was  legally  right. 

"In  opposition  to  all  this.  General  Kearney  urges,  in  support  of 
his  right  to  command  me^jirst^  his  rank  as  brigadier  general;  secondly^ 
his  instructions  to  take  command  of  the  troops  organized  in  Cali- 
fornia; thirdly ^  i\\iit  I  had  put  myself  under  his  command  by  re- 
))orting  to  him  on  the  ISth  of  January.  I  deny  all  three  of  his 
positions : 

"1.  As  brigadier  geu'  'al  ho  liad  no  right  to  give  mo  any  order  in 
relation  to  Commodore  Stockton's  forces,  lie  admits  this  with  re- 
spect to  the  sailors  and  marines ;  also,  with  respect  to  that  part  of  the 
battalion  whicli  was  detached,  and  uader  the  command  of  Captain 
Gillespie ;  it  was  ecpuilly  illegal  to  interfere  with  that  part  of  the 
commodore's  forces  which  was  under  my  command. 

"  2.  His  instructions  to  take  command  of  the  troops  organized  in 
California  did  not  apply  to  those  raised  by  the  navy  ;  they  did  not 
apply  to  such  forces  as  I  commanded,  and  of  which  nothing  was 
known  at  Washington  when  the  instructions  were  given. 

"  3,  His  pretension  that  I  put  myself  under  his  command  by  re- 
porting to  him,  and  on  which  he  mainly  relies,  is  as  unfounded  as 
all  the  rest,  but  requires  a  more  detailed  and  precise  examination. 
He  lays  great  stress  upon  this  alleged  reporting,  and  shall  have  the 
full  benefit  of  ids  own  testimony  in  support  of  his  pretension.  lu 
his  direct  examination,  he  said  :  '  About  the  14th  of  January,  1847, 
I  received  from  Lieutenant  Colonel  Fremont  a  ccmimunication  dated 
the  day  [irevioiis,  upon    the   march,  and  dated  Jnnuary  18,  184r» 


m 


n  i: 


mMi 


2()2 


LIFE    AND    SKRVICMS    OF   JollN    C.    FUKMONT. 


.i,  .'i; 


a 


!  <      i 


(presumed  to  bo  written  by  mistake  for  1847),  and  which  I  furnished 
togetlier  witli  the  charges,  to  the  adjutant  general.' 
"  The  paper  was  read,  as  folh)W8  : 

«0n  thk  Mauch,  January,  13, 1S4(J. 
'"DearSik:  I  liave  tlie  lionor  to  report  to  you  my  arrival  at 
this  phicc  with  400  mountel  rifh^nen  and  six  pieces  of  artillery,  in- 
cluding among  the  latter  two  pieces  lately  in  the  possession  of  the 
Californians.  Tkeir  entire  force,  under  the  coimuand  of  Don  An- 
dres Pico,  have  this  day  laid  down  their  arms  and  surrendered  to 
my  command. 

"  '  Very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

"  '  J.  0.  Fkkmont, 
"  '  Lieutenant  Colonel  IT.  S.  army^  and  Military 
"  '  Comnuindnnt  of  the  Territory  of  California. 
"  '  Brigadier  General  S.  W.  Kearney,' 

"  '  On  the  day  of  tlie  receipt  of  that  report  (viz. :  of  the  13th  Janu- 
ary), Lieutenant  Colonel  Fremont,  at  the  head  of  a  battalion  of 
volunteers,  entered  the  city  of  Los  Angeles.  On  the  IGtli  January 
an  order  was  sent  to  him,  relating  to  this  battalion,  by  my  direction, 
and  signed  by  Lieutenant  Emory,  a  copy  of  which  I  have  furnished, 
and  which  I  can  identify  if  shown  to  me. 

"'This  is  a  copy  of  the  order  furnished  to  liim  l)y  Lieutenant 
Emory. 

"  The  ])aper  was  read,  as  follows  : 


"  '  IIHAD  QUAIlTEnS,  UNITED  StATKS  AkMT, 

CiUDAD  Di'.  LOS  Angki.ks,  J(in.  IG,  1847. 


\ 


i  \ 


" '  By  direction  of  Brigadier-General  Kearney,  I  send  you  a  copy 
of  a  communication  to  him  from  the  Secretary  of  War,  dated  June 
18th,  184(3,  in  which  is  the  following:  '"These  troops,  and  such  as 
may  be  organized  in  California,  will  ])e  under  your  command."  The 
General  directs  that  no  ctiange  will  be  made  in  tlie  organization  of 
your  battalion  of  volunteers,  or  officers  appointed  in  it,  without  his 
sanction  or  approval  being  first  obtained. 
" '  Very  respectfully, 

"'Wm.  IL  Emoiiy. 
"  '  Lieutenant  and  Acting  Am^tant  Adjutant  General. 
"  *  Lieut.  Col.  J.  C.  Fremont, 

"  ^Mounted  Riflemen^  Commandiny 

"  '  Battalion  California  Volunteer,^.'' 


'I'l  »iS 


THK   DEFEInOK. 


2G3 


copy 

I  June 

th  as 

The 

\n  of 

his 


sral. 


'^  On  his  cross-exuininiition,  General  Kearney  thus  testifies  in  rela- 
tion to  that  battalion,  and  tlio  brief  note  wliich  he  treated  as  a  mili- 
tary report  for  duty :  '  The  California  battalion  was  under  my 
command  from  the  time  of  Lieutenant- Colonel  FrcmonVs  reporting 
to  me  on  the  Vith  of  January.''  lie,  therefore,  swears  to  the  fact 
of  my  reporting  to  him,  and  also  being  iinder  his  command ;  and 
tliis  double  swearing  becomes  the  corner-stone  of  his  accusation. 
Twice  afterwards  he  swears  to  tlio  same  eiVect,  thus:  '■I was  a  bri- 
gadier-general in  the  army.,  and  the  accused  was  a  lieutenant- 
colonel  in  it.  I  icns  in  comtnand  of  the  battalion  of  the  time^ 
(to  Avit:  ICtli  aud  17th).  And  again:  '/  made  no  attempt  to  get 
the  command  ;  the  battalion  was  already  under  me.'' 

"In  this  way,  and  by  dint  of  liis  own  swearing,  he  gets  mo,  as  he 
swears,  under  his  comuumd,  and  thereby  acquires  the  riglit  to  give 
me  orders,  witli  the  resulting  cousequenccs  of  nuitiny  and  disobe- 
dience if  I  did  not  obey  them ;  and  all  these  rights  and  consequen- 
ces flowing  from  the  word  report.^  as  found  in  my  note  of  the  18th 
January  to  him. 

"Now  let  us  see  Avith  how  much  truth  and  justice  this  is  done. 
From  the  testimony  in  chief,  at  the  opening  of  the  trial,  quoted 
above,  it  wotild  seem  that,  of  my  own  head,  on  the  13th  day  of 
January,  I  reported  myself  and  battalion,  in  the  military  sense  of 
the  word,  to  GencA-al  Kearney  for  duty;  that,  after  tlm-  reporting, 
and  without  anything  else  i)assing  upon  the  subject,  and  after  1  l)a.l 
voluntarily  put  myself  and  my  battalion  under  the  command  of 
General  Kearney,  I  did,  on  the  17th,  refuse  to  obey  the  order  of 
General  Kearney,  in  relation  to  said  battalion,  ami  tluis  became 
guilty  of  two  crimes — mutiny,  for  whioh   I  might  have  been  law- 
fully killed  on  the  spot;  and  disobedience  of  orders,  for  which  J 
may  be  sentenced  to  be  shot  or  cashiered,  or  otherwise  punished  by 
this  court. 

"The  flrst  words  of  the  testimony  imply  voluntary  comm  .ni- 
cation.  The  words  are:  'about  the  lith  of  January,  1847,  I 
received  from  Lieutenant-Colonel  Fremont  a  connnunication,  dated 
the  day  i)revious,  upon  the  march,  &c.,  which  I  furnished,  together 
with  the  charges  to  the  adjutant  general.'  This  testimony  presents 
a  voluntary  act  on  my  part,  a  movement  of  my  own  lieail,  uniu- 
fliienced  by  any  previous  act  of  General  Kearney ;  and  so  ';tood  the 
case  OH  the  direct  exninitialion,  on  tiie  first  day  of  the  trial. 


■  t ' 


':\ 


ir;  'f 


264 


LIFE   AND   SERVICES   OF   JOUN    C.    FREMONT. 


J  Hi  ij=i 


"  On  the  seventh  day  the  cross-examination  reached  tliis  point, 
and  the  recorded  testimony  shows  as  follows  : 

"  (Question.  Did  you,  at  Los  Atigoles,  from  the  10th  to  the  13th 
of  Janimry  inclusive,  address  notes  to  Lieutenant-Colonel  Fremont, 
and  if  so,  how  many,  and  for  Avhat  object? 

"Answer.  Between  those  dates  I  addressed,  I  think,  three  com- 
munications to  Lieutenant-Colonel  Fremont.  *  *  ♦  ^j^g 
object  of  my  commnnication  Avas  to  inform  Lieutenant-Colonel  Fre- 
mont of  our  being  in  possession  of  Los  Angeles,  and  having  a  strong 
force,  «fec. 

"  Question.  Were  they  official  orders,  or  familiar  notes  of  in- 
formation in  regard  to  impending  military  events,  and  desiring 
information  of  Lieutenant-Colonel  Fremont's  movements  in  return? 

"  Answer.  They  were  what  are  termed  semi-official,  written  in 
a  familiar  manner,  and  of  which  1  have  no  copies.  I  keep  a  copy  of 
ail  my  official  communications. 

"  Question.  Did  either  of  those  notes  give  the  information  that 
Governor  Stockton  was  at  Angeles  ? 

"Answer.     I  have  no  recollection  of  it. 

"Question,  Did  either  of  those  notes,  dated  at  6  o'clock  in  the 
evening  of  the  6th  of  January,  contain  these  words ;  '  Dear  Fre- 
mont :  I  am  here  in  possession  of  this  place,  with  sailors  and  ma- 
rines. We  met  and  defeated  the  whole  force  of  the  Californians 
the  8th  and  9th.  They  have  not  now  to  exceed  300  men  concen- 
trated. Avoid  charging  them,  and  come  to  me  at  this  place.  Ac- 
knowledge the  hour  of  receipt  of  this,  and  when  I  may  expect  you. 
Regards  to  Russell  ?' 

"Answer.  1  cannot  answer,  but  I  think  it  highly  probable  it  did. 
As  I  stated  before,  I  kept  no  copies  of  those  semi-official  papers. 

"  Question.  Did  you  address  the  accompanying  letter  to  Lieute- 
nant-Colonel Fremont,  and  at  the  time  of  its  date  ? 

"  Answer.     That  is  my  "writing  and  that  is  my  note. 

"  The  letter  was  read,  as  follows : 


"  '  PCEBLA  DE  LOS  AnQELSS,       ) 

Sunday,  Jan.  10,  lS47— 4  p.  m.    J 

"'Dear  Fefmont:  "We  are  in  possession  of  this  place,  with  a 
force  of  marines  and  sailors,  having  marched  into  it  this  morning. 
Join  us  as  soo'i  as  you  can,  or  let  me  know  if  you  want  us  to  marc^- 


THE   DEFENCE. 


265 


point, 

el3th 
3iuont, 

e  coiu- 

The 

el  Fre- 

,  strong 

i  of  in- 
lesiring 
return  ? 
itten  in 
copy  of 

on  that 


jk  in  the 

?ar  ¥re- 

md  raa- 

brnians 

concen- 

Ac- 

ect  you. 


36 


it  did. 

ipers. 
Lieute- 


ELKS, 
P.  M 


J 


with  a 
Horning. 
to  marc-> 


to  your  assistance.  Avoid  charpjing  the  enemy;  tlieir  force  does 
not  exceed  four  luindri'd,  pci-liaps  uot  more  than  thri-e  liundred. 
Please  acknowledge  tlie  receipt  of   this,  and  dispiitch  the  bearer 

at  once. 

" '  Yours, 

'' '  S.  W.  Kearney, 
" '  Brujiulier-  General^  U.  S.  'Army. 
"  'Lieut.  Colonel  J.  C  Fuemont, 
" '  Mounted  Jiijles,  Com.,  ttc' 

"Question.  Did  you  also  address  tliis  one  to  hiin,  and  at  the 
time  of  its  date? 

"The  Avitness,  having  examined  the  paper,  said:  That  is  my 
writing,  and  that  is  my  note. 

"  It  was  read,  as  follows  : 

"  '  ClUDAI)  DK  LOS  AN0KLE3,        } 

Jan.  13, 1S47— 12  o'clock,  noon.    J 

"'Dear  Fremoxt:  "We  are  in  force  in  this  place — sailors  and 
marines.    Join  us  as  soon  as  possible. 

" '  Wo  are  ignorant  of  your  movements,  and  know  nothing  of 
you  further  than  your  armistice  of  yesterday. 

" '  Yours, 

"  '  S.  W.  Kearney, 
" '  Brigadier- General. 
" '  Lieut.  Colonel  J.  C.  Fremont.' 

"  Question,  Did  you  also  address  this  to  him,  and  at  the  time 
it  bears  date? 

"Answer.     That  is  my  writing  and  that  is  my  note. 

"It  was  read,  as  folhjvvs : 

"  '  PUEBLA  I>K  I.OS  ANOELIW,        I 

Jan.  12,  1647 — Tuenday,  G  P.  M.    f 

'"Dear  Fremont:  I  am  here  in  possession  of  tiiis  jUace,  with 
sailors  and  marin<'*.  "We  met  and  defeated  the  whole  forf!«  of 
the  ('ulil'ornians,  the  8th  and  9th.  They  have  not  now  to  exceed 
800  men  concentrated.  Avoid  charging  them,  and  come  to  me 
rit  this  place. 

12 


.'  >■ 


i\'M 


■  F 


20^*)  iJl'IO    AM)    SKUVICKS    OB'   JOIIX   C.    FUKMONT. 

"' Aokriowlod;:^  tlio  lioiir  df  rocciiit  of  this,  uimI  whi'ii  I  may  ex- 
pect you.      lU'gai'ds  to  liiisscll. 

'''  YouiN, 

"•'•'  S.  W.  Ki:ai!nky, 

''  '  JJri'jddier-  General. 
'"Lieut.  Colonel  J.  C.  FnKMoxT.' 


ir. 


"  Question.  Did  you  also  write  this  one  to  him,  and  wore  tho 
tirst  two  of  the  tive  W(U'(ls  (i/n  not  eli!ii';^^'  the  enemy)  underscofed 
by  you,  MS  they  imw  .'ipiii')!!' ^ 

'"  An->\ver.  Tliat  is  iny  wi'itiii;x,  and  that  is  my  note,  and 
thoU}i;ii  I  have  no  I'ecDlJoction  of  underscoring  the^c  words,  I 
have  no  donot  hut   I  did  so. 

"The  note  was  read,  as  follows: 


'"ClUDAD  I)K  I.OS  AnOKLKS, 

Jiinniiri/  \'\,  \M1 


INOKLKS,       } 
17—2  p.  M.  \ 


"'Dkau  Frkmont  :  Wo  liiivo  boon  lioro  sinoo  tlio  lutli.  I  Imvo  plenty 
of  luiuinos  nnd  sinhtrs,  \\'e  I<ik)\v  Tiolliiuir  of  you,  cxi-cpt  your  arinistioo 
of  yostorday,  signed  liy  yourscU'.  I  have  sent  several  letters  to  you,  and 
four  tlioy  have  been  irUert'opted,  as  I  liave  reeeived  no  iinswor.  C'onio 
hero  at  dure,  with  your  wliole  I'oiTe,  and  Join  us;  or  if  you  camiot,  let  nic 
know  it,  find  I  will  '^o  to  you.  The  enemy  cannot  pos.sil)li/  liavo  near  you 
more  than  ;?(»o,  most  ]>robably  not  more  than  150  men.  Aeknowlodge  the 
/ii^iir  of  reeeivinu;  this,  and  send  baidi  tlie  bearer  at  once,  and  write  but 
little,  as  it  may  f^et  into  the  hands  of  tho  enemy,  instead  of  mine. 

" '  We  defeated  tlu'  enemy  on  tho  8th  and  on  the  0th,  during  our 
march.  Since  then  they  have  been  much  scattered,  and  several,  no  doubt, 
gone  homo. 

"  '  I  repent,  we  are  ignorant  of  everything  relating  to  your  command, 

except  Avhat    wo    conjecture  from    your   armistice,    signed    by  yourself. 

Success  to  you ! 

" '  Yours, 

'♦'S.  W.  Kearney, 

"  '  Briyadicr  General. 
*' '  Do  not  charge  the  enemy. 

** '  Lieutenant  Polonel  J.  C.  Frkmont, 
"  '  Moinitrd  Ri/cs,  ci-c: 

"This  is  wh.Tt  is  shown  by  the  cross-examination  I  The  note  of  the  13th, 
80  far  from  being  voluntary,  that  it  was  actually  pulled  and  dragged  out 


J 


Tin-:  1)i;fi:nck. 


20  r 


<'al. 


lunand, 
(urself. 


\eral. 


:(•(!  out 


of  1110  by  (tciicrul  Kt'iinicv,  liy  dint  of  rrpcutod,  iiryciit  solicitations,  iuul 
nfl'TtioiiiitL'  notes,  nil  riM|iiiriiii,'  iiil'orniiitioii   of  my  i)ositioii  mid    inovc- 


(•  Slorkloii   WHS  with 
Dear   Kii'inoiit,"  Ibili" 


monts,  ami  nil  coiiccaliiiir  tlu'  tact  lliat  Coiiimodor 
liini  ill  liOS  Aiij.';('li>s,  and  liis  (•(inmiandi'i'-in-i'liiof,  " 
times  repeated,  and  iuiir  applications  for  intcn'matioiis  of  him,  show  the 
character  of  the  notes  sent  and  the  ol)ject  of  scmlin;,'  them  ;  that  they 
were  familiar  notes  of  information,  snch  us  aro  written  in  all  services  and 
between  otiicers  of  all  ranks,  and  which  are  used  tor  no  purpo-e  in  tho 
world  oxcejit  for  the  sake  of  the  information  they  contain,  lint,  wliilo 
the  notes  show  this,  the  cross-examination  was  impotent  to  irain  the  samo 
knowledj,'e,  either  of  their  numl)er,  object,  or  tontents.     To  the  question, 


II 


ow   maiiv  o 


f  tl 


lese  notes?  he  answ  ei's   ihrc 


h 


tiuni 


Not  I 


)ein''  ui 


the  habit  of  desli'oyinj^'  originals,  I  |iroilure  him  foui'.  To  the  (piestion, 
With  what  oiiject  y  he  replies  that  it  was  to  f^'ive  him  (inysidf)  inlbrmatiou 
of  his  ((ten(M'al  Kearney's)  bein^rin  ])os-iessi()n  of  fiOs  AiiLTeles,  A:c.,  &c.  Tho 
notes  beiiiii  read  show  that,  in  addition  to  that   inforniation  to  me,  thev 


desired  Information  I'lom  me  also. 


To  tl 


le  iiHiuirv  whether  cithci'  o 


.f  tl 


lese 


notes  gave  information   that   (iovernor  Sto'  kton  was  at  I^os  Angeles  V  tho 


answer  is. 


[  I 


lavi-  no  recollection  of  it. 


''  The  notes  themselves  being  r'ead,  eiich  one  shows  that  the  presence  of 
Governor  Stockton  was  not  even  hinlrd.  The  same  lour  notes  tell  some- 
thing else  very  incomi)atili!e  with  the  testimony  of  a  jirevions  day  ;  they 
toll  [jieuteiiant-Colomd  Fremont  the  force   uone  against  him  mav  l)e  :{U(» 


or  -loo  men.     Ir   the  previous  swearing  are  tin 


SI'  w 


ord.< 


.\nd 


it  sina 


11 


party  under  Don  Andreas  i'iio — irli''<li  purfi/  I  Iiiwr  ncrrr  mtdrrsUxxl  U> 
hare   excecdi'd  fiffii  or   si.rfi/    unn. 


— -went    to  CoueiiLra,    and  enter 


eil  into 


t'lipitidation  with  Lieutenant-Colonel  FiH'inont. 

"  From  these  notes,  then,  the  great  fact  was  brought  out  that  tho  oom- 
niunication.  presented  as  ii  voluntary  act,  was  extiMcted  from  liieuienant- 
Colonel  Fremont  i»y  (leneral  Kearney  himself;  that  instead  of  being  a 
military  reporting  for  duty,  it  was  a  reporting  for  information  only  ;  that, 
instead  of  being  an  olUcial  communication,  it  was  a  familiar  private  note, 


in  answ 


er  to  familiar,  private,  and  apparently  most  afl'ectionate  not( 


''  I'pon  their  face  they  contradicted  the  swearing  of  (ieneral  Kearney; 
audit  is  further  oontradioted  by  facts  and  circumstaiicos  drawn  from  him- 
self or  from  authentic  sources.  The  direct  testinu)ny  at  the  oi)ening  of  iho 
trial,  says  :  '  On  tho  day  of  the  rrci'/pi  of  that  letter,  kr.,  &c.,  Lieutenant- 
Colonel  Fromont,   ai   the  head  of  a   battalion  of  volunteers,   entered  tho 

Now,  all  the  testiim)ny  agrees  (ami  such  is  the  fact) 
with  mv  battalion,  I  went  direct  to 


citv  of  L 


Am 


that  on  mv  entrance  into  Lo.s  Aiiue 


tho 


quirtors  assig: 


ned  it  bv  (roveraor  .'^tockton  throu'jch  Colonel  RussoU 


I 


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23  WEST  MAIN  STREET 

WEBSTER,  N.Y.  14580 

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208 


LIFli   \Sl)   SKltVICES   OF   JOHN    0.    FKKMONT. 


then  rpportpcl  in  person  to  Governor  Stockton,  and  afterwards  calli'd  on 
(Jenenil  Keiirney. 

"  That  note  so  extracted  from  me,  and  so  perverted,  did  not  fetch  itself 
to  I,OH  Anf^fles.  Some  person  must  have  brought  it,  and  di<l ;  and  that 
person  was  Col.  W.  II.  Jiusscli ;  and  he  has  given  an  account  of  liis  mission, 
and  ol'  his  conversation  witii  (Jeneral  Kearn"V,  wholly  inconii)atihle  with 
the  present  imputed  intention  of  that  note.  Un  tho  ^Tth  day  of  that  trial, 
that  witness  (Colonel  Kussell)  was  introduced,  and  the  second  question 
put  to  him  (the  first  be'iig  only  to  show  his  rank  in  the  Californian  batta- 
lion) was  this  :  '  Were  you  sent  to  Los  Angeles,  from  the  plains  of  Cou- 
enga,  by  Lieutenant-Colonel  Fremont  V  If  so,  at  what  time,  and  for  what 
purpose  V'  and  the  answer  was  :  '  I  was  sent  by  Lieutenant-Colonel 
Fremont  from  the  plains  of  Couenga,  about  the  lIUli  of  January,  1847, 
for  the  j)i;rpose  of  ascertaining  who  was  in  chief  command,  and  to  make 
report  of  the  capitulation  made  on  that  day  to  whomsoever  I  should  find 
in  the  chief  command  at  Los  Angeles.'  The  next  qu"stion :  '  Will  you 
state  how  you  executed  that  mission?'  Answer.  '  I  wtut  to  the  quar- 
ters of  General  Kearney  first,  and  iiKpiired  of  him  whether  his  arrival  in 
the  country  had  superseded  Counnodore  Stockton,  who,  before  had  been 
recognized  as  chief  commander.  From  General  Kearney  I  learned  that 
Connnodorc  Stockton  was  still  in  chief  command,  and  l)y  him  I  was 
directed  to  make  my  report  to  the  commodore.'  Tins  was  the  testimony 
of  Colonel  K.  on  that  point  on  his  examination  in  chief.  On  my  cross-exanr 
ination  (li'.ttli)  day  the  following  (piestions  were  put  by  the  judge  advocate  : 

"  '  Do  you  recollect  tJeneral  Kearney  told  you  expressly  that  he  was 
serving  under  Commodore  Stockton,  or  did  he  say  anything  more  explicit 
than,  as  was  said  l)y  you,  that  Commodore  Stockton  was  in  chief  com- 
mand, and  you  would  carry  your  report  of  the  capitulation  to  him? 

"  Answer.  '  He  (oM  me  distinctly  that  he  was  serving  under  Coramo- 
dore  Stockton,  and  had  been  doing  so  from  San  Diego.' 

"  Question  by  judge  advocate.  '  Was  Captiiin  Turner  present  at  that 
interview  ?' 

"  Answer.     '  I  am  not  positive,  but  believe  he  was.' 

"On  the  fortieth  day  of  the  trial,  the  court  took  up  the  cross-examina- 
tion ;  and,  on  this  [)oint,  with  the  following  results: 

"  Question.  '  When  yon  were  sent  to  Los  Angeles,  to  ascertain  who  was 
in  connnand,  had  you  any  orders  what  to  do  if  you  found  the  chief  com- 
mand chimed  by  both  Commodore  Stockton  and  General  Kearney.' 

"  Answer.  '  My  instructions  i'ron\  Lieutenant-Colonel  Fremont  were  to 
proceed  to  Los  Angeles,  and  carefully  to  inquire  as  to  who  was  in  chief 
command,  and  to  make  my  report  accordingly.     Xo  such   contingency 


TlIK    DKKKNCK. 


'2r,o 


was  contempliited,  I  tliink,  by  Lieutoniini-Colonol  Fremont,  wljen  he 
dispatched  me  on  that  mission,  as  the  command  being  claimed  by  them 
both.' 

"  Question  by  a  member.  '  Wliy  did  you  first  report  to  General  Kearney 
rather  than  to  ( 'onimodore  Stockton  .•'' 

"Answer.  '  7  Iwre  a  Ittdr  to  (ieneral  Kearney  from  Lieutenant-Colonel 
Fremont,  in  ackxovlfdi/incnt  of  one  received  by  Lieutenant-Colonel  Fre- 
mont from  (leiicral  Kenniey,  and  for  the  further  reason  that  we  were 
totally  ignorant  of  the  object  of  (lenerul  Kearney's  being  in  the  country, 
and  my  orders  from  Lieutenant-Colonel  Fremont  were  that  1  should  ascer- 
tain all  about  it.' 

"  (Question  by  the  court.  '  ?tate  all  the  conversation  which  passed 
between  you  and  Lieutenant-Colonel  Fremont  on  the  subject  of  choice 
of  commanders,  after  you  returned  and  reported  to  him  the  result  of  your 
visit  to  Los  Angeles  V' 

"Answer.  'I  mi't  Lieiitenant-Colonel  Fremont  at  the  dead  of  his  batta- 
lion, on  the  morning  of  tlie  Mth  of  January  (as  I  stated  in  my  chief  ex- 
amination), about  live  or  six  miles  from  Los  Angeles,  and  told  him  I  had 
had  nnich  conversation  with  both  (loneral  Kearney  and  Commodore 
Stockton,  tonching  their  respective  positions  in  the  country.  That  I  was 
satisfied,  from  what  had  occurred,  that  (Ieneral  Kearney  was  a  l)etter  friend 
of  his  than  Commodore  Stockton  ;  but  from  (Jeneral  Kearney's  own  admis- 
sion, 1  regretted  to  have  to  give  it  as  my  opinion  that  we  should  have  to 
look  to  Commodore  Stockton  still  as  commander-in-chief.  That  I  found 
Commodore  Stockton  exercising  the  functions  of  commander-in-chief,  and 
submitted  to  implicitly,  as  1  thought,  by  (ieneral  Kearney.  This  was  the 
substance  of  my  conimunic  itiou  to  Lieutenant-Colonel  Fremont ;  and 
he,  I  think,  with  eipud  reluctance,  at  the  time,  came  to  the  same  con- 
clusion.' 

"  This  is  the  testimony  of  the  witness  who  bore  the  note  which  is  repre- 
sented here  (and  made  the  foundation  of  the  prosecution  against  me), 
as  a  military  report,  to  put  myself  and  my  battalion  under  orders  of 
General  Kearney,  and  actually  so  placing  myself  and  battalion  under  his 
orders. 

"  From  all  the  testimony  of  Colonel  Russell,  it  seems  clear  that  Gene- 
ral Kearney  undertook  to  gain  me  over  to  hi<  side  by  Hatteries,  by  oflVr- 
ing  the  governorship  of  California,  and  by  exciting  resentment  against 
Connnotlore  Stockton  ;  and  failing  by  all  of  these  means  to  accomplish 
that  purpose,  he  tried  the  experiment  of  an  order  upon  me,  with  the 
menace  of  '  unciuestionable  ruin,'  which  ruin,  it  would  seem,  he  has  been 
laborinjr  ever  since  to  cQect. 


J  !'■ 


270 


LliK    AND    Sl.iiVICK.S    i)F   JUHN    C.    FKEMONT. 


; 


*' Tliixt  tliiM  i-onstni.tioii  wiis  not  ]m\  upon  my  note  nt  tlio  time  it  was 
received,  seems  clear  IVoiii  ollicinl  eolrmporaiieoiis  acts  (il'(Ji  iieral  Kearney 
liiniself.  Tim-,  on  t!ie  1  Itli  day  ol' .liiim;iry,  lie  writes  to  tlie  War  Depai't- 
nient,  I'rom  Los  An^MJes,  tliat  '  tliis  morning  Licnlenanl-Colonel 
Treniont,  of  llie  rc;;iinent  of  mounted  riiiemen,  rcdchrd  lirrr  with  liMt 
volunleers,'  \e.,  ite.  No  word  of  reportinfi;  to  him,  or  jilaeiiij;  mysi-lf 
and  battalion  under  his  command.  Sundy  that  was  the  time  to  have 
eonjomuiated  to  the  War  |)e|)artmenl  such  an  I'ssential  piece  of  intidli- 
{,'ence.  In  the  concludiiif,^  jiarl  o!"  the  same  letter  he  nays:  'On  their 
their  arrival  (troops  from  New  York  and  New  Mexico)  I  shall,  af,'reeal)ly 
to  the  instrui'tions  of  the  rresident  of  the  United  States,  have  the 
manafrement  of  all'airs  in  this  cotiinry,  and  will  endeavor  to  cari-y  out 
liis  views  in  ndation  to  it,'  words  which  necosarily  mean  that  he  did 
not  consider  hims(dl'  entitlei]  to  comniaiul  until  the  arrival  of  those 
troops,  or  else  that  lie  intended  to  avail  hinis<df  of  those  troops  to 
ohiain  conmiiind. 

"The  letters  of  the  KUh  and  IVth  of  January,  from  (leneral  Kearney 
to  Commodore  Stockton,  are  sijrnilicaiit  at  this  point.  I.  They  are 
totally  silent  on  the  suhjei't  of  my  havin;^  placed  myself  ami  the  hat- 
talion  under  his  comniaml.  '2.  Tln'y  show  the  whole  'ontest,  \i)>  to  the 
17tli,  to  he  helweeti  the  two  sui)eriors.  ',\.  The  letter  of  the  17th  shows 
a  sliiftini,'  of  the  grounds  of  liis  claim  to  eommainl  in  Califorina,  Iiasinj; 
it  on  A/.s'  victories  of  the  Sth  ami  '.Ith,  and  the  capitulation  of  the  enemy 
to  me  on  the  loth.  Tlie  words  of  the  letter,  sij^nilicant  of  this  clianf,'e, 
are  :  '  As  in  consetiueitce  of  the  defeat  of  th(>  enemy  on  the  Hth  and  Uth 
instant  by  tlie  troojis  under  my  command,  and  the  capitulation  entered 
into  on  the  l;>tli  instant,  by  Lieutenant-Colonel  Kremont  with  the  leaders 
of  the  Californians,  in  whitdi  the  peojile  under  arms  and  in  the  tield 
njrree  to  disperse  and  to  remain  quiet  and  peaceable,  the  country  may 
now,  for  tlie  lirst  time,  be  considered  as  conquered  and  taken  possession 
of  by  us,  and  us  I  am  prepart'd  to  carry  out  the  President's  instructions 
to  me,  which  yon  opjiose,  I  must,  for  the  purixise  of  preventiiifr  a  colli- 
sion lietween  ns,  and  possibly  a  civil  war  in  consequcMice  of  it,  remain 
silent  for  the  present,  leaving  with  yon  the  j^reat  r»>s^  onsibility  of  doinji^ 
that  for  which  you  have  no  authority,  and  preventing  nu;  from  complying 
•witli  the  President's  orders.' 

"  The  value  of  this  testimony,  which  would  make  me  to  have  reported 
to  (ieiieral  Kearney,  and  placed  myself  and  battalion  under  his  com- 
mand, must  now  be  understood.  I  undertake  to  say  there  ii  no 
authentic  modern  instance  of  a  note,  as  innoi-ent  in  itself,  and  extracted 
from  tlic  writer  under  such   circumstances,   so  totally  perverted  from 


THE    DKFENCE. 


271 


ita  moaning,  and  iPiido  the  foundation  of  such  a  prosecution  as  I  have 
endured, 

"  If  men  are  to  ho  oapifally  and  infamously  tried  for  such  a  note,  no 
one  is  safe  in  wiiliiig. 

"  I  am  ehargi'd  iicre  with  a  great  military  crime.  I  should  have  hoon 
guilty,  not  only  of  it,  hut  of  an  inoxcusalile  hreaeh  of  faith,  if  I  find 
made  a  reiJort  of  myself  and  hattalion  to  tJeneral  Kearney,  and  so 
placed  under  'he  eonnnand  of  that  oHieer  the  troops  raised  hy  the 
means  and  authority  of  Commodore  Stockton,  and  hy  him  intrusted  to 
me. 

"  I  now  close  this  defence  to  specification  first,  of  charge  two,  for  diso- 
bedience of  lawful  orders. 

"  The  second  specification,  under  the  head  of  mutiny,  is  for  raising 
and  attem])ting  to  raise  trooi)S,  on  the  25lh  of  January,  18-17  ;  and  is  in 
th(!se  words. 

"  *  SpecificatUni  2.  In  this,  that  he,  Lieutenant-Colonel  John  C. 
Fremont  of  the  regiment  of  mounted  litlomen,  United  States  army, 
being  in  eonnnand  of  a  hattalion  of  volunti'crs  organized  in  California, 
which  were  jilaced  hy  the  aforesaid  or<lers  of  the  Seeretary  of  War,  of 
June  l!^,  IS  It),  under  the  eominand  of  Ihigiidicr-iiciieral  Kearney,  did 
issue  an  order  to  Captair,  J.  K.  Wilson,  at  Angeles,  January  25,  1847,  in 
the  following  words,  to  wit : 


orted 
com- 
i«  no 
acted 
from 


'"  Ancki.ks,  Januarif  2.S,  1847. 
"'Sir:    You   are  hereby  authorized  and  directed  to  raise  a  company 
of  men  to  constitute  the  second  company  of  artillery  in  the  California 
service,  and  for  that  pur])0se  are  detached  from  your  present  command. 

*'  '  You  will  i)lease  irport  the  nunilx-r  you  wiii  l)e  able  to  enlist 
with  as  little  delay  as  possiltle.  You  are  autliorized  to  cidist  the  men 
for  three  months,  and  to  promise  llit-ni  as  compensation  $25  per 
month. 

"  '  Respect  fully, 

"  '  J.    C.    Fr.KMONT, 

"  '  Zh'w/,  Col.  commanding  California  force  i)i  U.  S.  service. 
"♦To  Captain  S.  K.  Wilson, 

"  '  Lii/ht  Artillert/: 

'*' Therel)y  raising  and  attempting  to  raise  troops,  in  violation  and 
contempt  of  the  lawful  command  aforesaid  of  his  superior  officer, 
Brigadier-General  Kearney,  of  date  January  10,  1S47,  and  thereby  acting 


i; 

Iff-! 


1 


Ms 


:. 


J  '! 


272 


l.ll-'K    AND    SKIiVKKS    OK    .lolIN    ( '.    KKKMoNP. 


openly  in  (Iflinncc  of,  anil  In  nniliny  ii^ainst,  tlio  antliorWy  of  his  supe- 
rior olliocr  iilorrsaiil,  by  riiisiiiff  and  attempting  to  raise  trooj's,  and  l»y 
])i'oelainiiii;!;  Iiiiiiseir  to  he,  ami  assiiminj;  to  act  as  eommamler  of  tlio 
United  Slates  I'oives  in  ( 'alifoiiiia.'" 

Tlie  .same  act  is  specification  No.  'J,  in  cliar;;e,  for  disoliedience  of 
orders — tlie  orders  cliarp-d  to  have  lieeii  disoheyed  lieing  (lie  order  of 
January  !(>,  1S17,  aj^ainst  tlie  ori^ani/.ation  of  llie  Califoriiia  battalion. 

"  I  will  consider  hotii  of  these  specilicatioiis  loj^etlier,  and  arranj:je  the 
matter  of  del(>nce  under  these  general  heads:  1.  That  I  was,  at  that 
liiiie,  ^oveiiKir  ami  eoiiimander  in-chief  in  California.  *2.  That  (Jenenii 
Kearney  had  no  ri;:^ht  to  «'ommand  the  Itattalion  at  that  time.  li.  That 
the  order  of  the  U.th  cd'  .laiiiiary,  1SI7,  liesides  lieiiij^  illegal  in  it.stdf, 
bad  no  relation  to  any  oIIhm-  change  in  the  battalion  than  the  ono 
iutended  at  the  time  it  was  j;iveii. 

"  1.  That  I  was  then  ^rovenior  and  commander-in-chief  in  Oalifornia 
is  proved  iiy  the  testimony  of  ('oiiimodoi'«'  Stockton,  and  the  production 
of  the  original  eommission  ;  and  his  right  to  bestow  that  commission 
upon  me  resulted  from  his  own  right  to  cimstituto  himself  governor. 
Both  acts  were  done  under  the  law  of  nations ;  and  by  virtue  of  tho 
right  of  coniiiiest  ;  by  virtue  of  the  orders  and  instructions  of  the  Presi- 
dent of  the  United  States,  charging  the  naval  coiimianders  in  the  Pacific 
ocean,  exclusively,  with  the  coiKjuest  and  civil  government  of  California, 
until   relievi'd   under   the   iiislniclioiis   of   i'\e   ."»th   of   ^'ovember,    1810. 


Tl 


lese  instructions  did  iiol  arrive  until  after  the  alleged  com.ni.ssion  of  tl 


10 


act  of  mutiny  and  disotiedieme  now  under  examination;  ami,  when  they 
did  arrive,  were  never  coiiiniimicaled  to  me  at  all. 

"  1  am  advised  by  counsel,  that  the  apiiointiiient  of  himself  as  go\ernor, 
■Stockton,   was  a  valiil    aitpdintiiieiit   under   the   law   of 


by  Commodoi'i 

nations;  and  that  upon  the  same  principle,  his  appointment  of  myself  as 
liis  sik'cessor  was  «'(pially  valid  ;  and  that  in  neither  case  was  the  appro- 
val of  tln>  Presiilent  of  (he  United  Slates  necessary  to  the  validity  of  tho 
ajipointnieiit,  (hough  each  revocable  Ity  hiin  at  his  pleasure;  and  (here- 
fore  jirojx'r  (0  be  made  known  (o  him.  Tliis  I  am  advised  is  the  law  ; 
but  being  now  prosecuted  for  mutiny  and  for  disobedience  of  orders,  in 
assuming  and  usurping  (he  governorsh'p  of  California,  and  it  being  the 
rresi(K-nt  ahme  who  ctnild  order  my  trial  in  this  case  (accused  as  1  am  liy 
my  eoiiiinandiiig  general),  it  becomes  material  to  show  thai  this  appoiiil- 
iiient,  and  the  intention  to  make  it  long  before  it  was  made,  was  duly 
comnumicated  to  him,  and,  widle  not  disai)proved,  was  impliedly  sanc- 
tioned, and  never  revokeil.  For  the  fact  of  tho  communication  of  tho 
intention  to  a])poinl  me  his  sueeesior,  I  refer  to  Governor  Stocktou's  o(H- 


TiiK  I)I-;m:n(!K. 


'2TA 


liiw  ; 
l-s,  ill 
tho 
In  by 
niiit- 
a>ily 
lanc- 
tbo 
1  olU- 


cial  (llspntch  of  Aufrust  2R,  IRlrt,  from  Los  Anpolos,  sont  in  by  Mr. 
rarsoii  ;  and  for  the  fact  of  his  coininimifiitiiit;  tlif  fiu-t  of  his  huvin,'; 
u])poinf(Ml  nit',  I  refer  to  his  ollieial  dispateh  of  January  'I'l,  1H17,  from 
Kan  I)ie;^o.  The  lirsl  of  these  dispalchi-s  arrived  hy  the  hands  of  Mr. 
ritzpiilrieii  «'urly  in  N'oveinher,  ISIC,  and  tiieir  geiifiiil  contentH  wero 
noticed  l»y  tlie  President  in  his  annual  iiiessa^fe  of  Decenilier  foliowiiif;, 
and  ill  tlie  reports  of  the  Secretaries  of  War  and  Navy,  and  all  in  terms 
of  ;rciieral  approval.  I'assat^es  from  this  messa^re  and  these  reports  liavo 
licen  alreadv  oiioted,  and  rciinire  no  repetition;  and  from  them  and  from 


the  communication  of  (Joveriior  Stockton's  nets  us  fjovernor,  to  Conf,'r<'ss, 
at  tlie  time  liy  tin-  administration,  I  assume  it  to  !)(■  proved  that  llie  intent 
to  appoint  nu;  froveriior  was  Uiiown  to  the  f^overnment  in  N'ovemher, 
is  111,  and  not  disapproved  l»y  it.  The  dispatch  of  the  *2'Jd  January, 
1847,  was  received  from  Lieiitonant  Gray  of  the  navy,  in  the  month  of 
April  following  ;  and,  so  far  as  '  can  learn,  his  act  was  not  disavowed  in 
appointiiif;  me  ;;overnor.  Kven  if  it  was,  the  disavowal  could  only 
operate  from  the  time  it  would  lie  known  to  me,  which  it  never  was. 
''The  commission  from  (iovernor  Stockton  was  in  tlieso  wordri : 
"  'To  all  whom  it  may  concern,  f^reetin^j^:  llavin^,  l»y  authority  of  tlm 
rr<'si<lent  and  CoiiKress  of  the  I'liited  States  of  Xorth  America,  and  iiy 
ri;.dit  of  compiest,  taken  possession  of  that  [lortion  of  territory  hereto- 
for(!  known  as  I'pper  and  Lower  California,  and  havinf:^  declared  tin* 
eamo  to  ho  a  territory  of  the  United  States,  under  the  name  of  the  terri- 
tory of  Oalifornia,  and  havinj^  established  laws  for  the  {government  of  the 
same  territory,  I,  Koljert  F.  Stockton,  govc  rnor  and  coinmander-in-ehief 
of  the  same,  do  in  virtue  of  the  authority  in  me  vested,  and  in  obedi- 
ence to  the  aforementioned  laws,  appoint  J.  C  Fremont,  Ks(|.,  governor 
and  commander-in-chief  of  the  territory  of  California,  until  the  President 
of  the  United  States  shall  otherwise  direct. 

"'Given  luider  my  hand  and  seal  on  this  sixteenth  day  of  January, 


[SKAL.] 


Anno  Domini  one  thousand  eight  hundred  and  forty-sevc«,  at 
the  Ciudad  de  los  Angeles. 

"  '  R.  F.  SiocKTor,  Governor,  i:c.^ 


"  On  this  state  of  facts,  I  maintain  that  I  was  duly  aud  legally  gover- 
nor and  commander-in-chief  in  California  at  the  time  of  the  act  done, 
which  is  charged  as  mutiny  and  as  disobedience  of  orders,  in  the  two 
fjpecilications,  under  the  two  charges  referred  to. 

"  2.  That  General  Kearney  hud  no  right  to  command  the  battalion  at 
that  time. 

"The  facts  and  the  arguments  in  support  of  this  proposition  are  tlio 


,11 1 


!■ 


i  i: 


\ 


w 


il 


L>74 


MM';    AMI   SI  i;VI(  r-    f'K   .IdliN    f.    II.'I.MmM' 


Hiiiuc  wliiili  IiJivi-  hcni  iiliiiidv  u^rd  in  uii-wcr  (d  siH'ciliciitioiis  first  in 
Imlli  lilt'  Cm -(  iliiirLr'  -',  Nvilli  tin'  iiilililioii  nl'  aiLruiiH'iUs  lo  ^Imw  lliiil  (Icii. 
KiMi-nry  li;iil  no  inon'  lit^lit,  nl  lli;il  tinii',  t<>  iniiiiii;mil  im-,  i'l  my  ^'nv- 
n  ii(if.-lii|i  (if  ( 'iiliriiriiiii,  tliaii  tic  liail  In  ((iiiniiaiiil  (luvci  im  •  SlocKloii 
wliilf  in  ilic  same  ()lliiM<  ;  ami  lliat,  in  lad,  lliis  |ii(isi'rnlinii,  ji,  ilii'  s|icci- 
lii'iilioiis  nmlci'  foiisiiicratiuii,  is  milliiiii,'  init  a  ('otiliiuiation  di'  llif  i'(»nl<'st, 
wliii'ii  l>c;;an  al  San  Dici^'o  wiili  (ioMinor  Stoiivtun,  ami  «liicli  ()ii;^lii  t(t 
lunc  liiM'n  lini.-in'il  >\  iili  tiini. 

"  (Icncral  Krarinv  tlainifti  anlliorily  In  commaml  llic  liatlalioii,  lii-t,  liy 
virtiH'  «il' liis  inslniclidiH,  ami  nr\l,  iiy  tin-  assiiinplinii  liiat  I  iiaii  pnl, 
in'sclt'  nmiiT  liis  coniinami.  I  |)ii'>unh'  tliis  iatirr  i^Toiind  iias  lictii 
*'llri'liiaii\  ili>^iK)M'(i  (il  iiiTcldloic.  Till'  lii>l  unc  lias  rt'rci\  cd  -itnic  aMswns, 
itmi  iias  otluTs  Id  rceiivf.  It  lias  i.i'cii  ai'^iird  lioni  tlic  Ix'j^iniiiiif^ — IVoiu 
Sail  Die;  )  t«)  tiiis  jilacr,  and  I'l  ,>ni  I'd'cinliiT,  IMt'i,  lo  tins  tiim — tliat 
tin'  insiniciions  to  (Jci.i'  iI  Kcaincy  wvvv  rondiiionai  :  '  Slii>iil((  )i<»t  r«ii- 
ni/cr  (linl  fil/iijii>ssis.iltiii  ()/'  A'"'  Ml. rim  iiinl  < 'il/i  fofii  iil  ur  roiisiih  ralili' 
jiliu-is  ill  i'illiet\  i/oii  trill  rs/ i/i/ls/i  /i  luji'iyiiri/  riril  (inririiiiiriils  (lirrriii. 
Tlii'sc  iiislrnctioiis  arc  evidently  condilionai,  ami  only  apjilicaldc  lo  ii 
ronnlry  iim(im|iicrcd,  iMid  willioiil  a  civil  irovcrnincMl.  (Mi  tlic  conlraiy, 
liciorc  tirncial  Kearney  lel'l  New  Mexico  lie  had  '  y»n\///c(  '  (nsinj^  the 
\\uv{\  ol'  liis  ordiT)  inrornialion  thai  all  this  wa<  already  done,  and  imme- 
diately acled  npon  that  '  y^osvV/cc '  intclii;,'(>iice,  hy  diminishinj:;  the  I'orce 
villi  which  he  had  set  onl.  lie  met  Mr.  Chrislopher  Carson,  hearer  of 
ollicial  disi>atches  IVoin  (iovernor  Stockton,  and  of  private  letters  IVoiii 
inysell",  learned  the  tnu'  stale  of  things  Iroiii  him,  turned  him  hack  as  liirt 
guide,  rcdncetl  '  tlir  iiniii/  of  tin  ir.v/,"  willi  which  he  was  to  compier 
California,  to  an  eseort  tor  his  personal  sai'ety  in  travelling'  through  the 
country,  and  went  on,  as  the  seipud  showed,  not  to  execute  fioveriiim'iit 
orders,  already  executed  hy  oiheni,  hut  (  what  is  rarely  seen  in  any 
military  service)  to  take  iVom  others  the  Iruits  of  their  toils,  hardships, 
danjiers,  and  victories.  He  took  the  heari'r  of  dispati'hes,  sent  hy  the 
real  coiuiuerors,  to  iruide  him — show  him  the  way — to  the  eoiuiuered 
country;  hid'ore  hi>  arrived  there,  sent  for  aid  I'rom   the  eompieror,  and 

detaclmieut,  nearly  eipial    to  half  his    foi'ce, 


nu'iMvcd   It    in   a 


•unl^onie 


\iid  after  iiirhtiiiL'  an  action  with  that  aid,  was   I'our  dav: 


upon  a  hill  in  a 


Btate  of  sicire,  from  which  he  was  r<'lieved  l>y  two  hundicd  and  fifteen 
men  sent  out  hy  ("ommodore  Stockton  to  conduct  him  into  !^an  Die^^'o, 
vhere  he  was  safe.  Tliis  w;-.s  not  the  comiuest  of  Calii'ornia,  nor  was 
the  plain  of  San  Pasipial,  or  the  hill  of  San   IJernardo,    the   con(|uest  of 


(/(  rabh  pJit 


in 


that 


province,  so  as  to  give  a  rij^dit  to  <;'ovcrn  it. 


The   subst'()UO!!t    oprations   were    ui;  '■  r   tlie   co;i:'P.,'.iid    of   ( 


oi!iu;(nioro 


'iiiK  i»i:ri;N'('K. 


275 


is  Ii'h 

HUT 

the 

iiiit'iit 

any 

lips, 

V  tlu> 

imhmI 

ami 

lorcc, 
in  a 

il'iccn 

Vu'-o, 

'St  of 
'vn  it. 
(Kioro 


Pfockton  ;  nnd  it  is  hpcnn«o  lie  sliniiM  upMcur  as  cnnipioror,  in  onlcr  to 
(."•t  a  ri^lil  iiniicr  liis  insfiiictions  to  llic  fx<>Vfiii(tr>liip,  lliat  llu-  claim  lias 
Itfcii  set  lip  li\  (Icrii'iaj  Kcjiriicy  to  Iiavi-  conunaiHli'd  the  troops  to  liOS 
Aii^'i'lrs,  jitid  <',iiiin'«l  tlir  virlorics  oC  tli«'  Kill  ami  '.ttli  ol'  .riniiary,  ami, 
tilt  rnipnii,  in  coiijiim-iion  wiili  tlic  capiliilation  ol'  ('(>iicii;.m,  slarlcd  a 
new  cliiiiii  to  ihc  |;nvt'iiiorsliip,  on  tlic  a-simiptioii  thai  lie  iiad  just  (•nn- 
(picicd  ill"  ( oiintry.  Tliis  Pew  claim  is  stalled  i/i  tlic  iritcr  of  ITtli 
January,  ls|7,  fVoni  (Icncial  Kearney  lo  ('(Hiiinodore  Slocklon,  and 
cleavly  sliows  his  own  views,  at  thai  time,  ol'  the  eoiidiliomil  naliiie  of 
his  iiislriiclions.  Tlic  Idler  lias  iieen  (piolcd.  'is  elVcctive  and  a|)plical)h< 
words  nl  this  |ioint  are,  *  As,  in  conscipieiicc  of  the  deleal  of  the  enemy 
on  the  Kth  ami  '.till  iii'^laiil,  hy  the  troops  iimler  w// coMmand,  and  iho 
capitulation  entered  into  on  the  ]'\\\\  instant  liy  Lieiitenanl-Coloiud 
Fremont  with  tlio  leaders  of  the  Caiiroinias,  &c.,  the  country  may  now, 
for  the  //r.s7  time,  he  I'onsidered  as  chik/ui nd,  and  taken  possfssitoi  ol'  by 
us;  ami  «s  1  am  prepared  to  carry  out  the  IVosident's  luslructionH  to  me, 
which  i/oii  oppose,'  itc,  \c. 

"This  extract  shows  (Jcncral  Kearney's  own  oi)iiru)ns  of  his  instruc- 
*ions  at  the  time  he  wrote  that  Idler,  .Mid  that  they  were  conditiomil 
upon  the  j'att  of  comiuerin^  and  taking'  possession  of  the  country.  It 
shows  hi.s  opinion  ;  l)Ul,  if  the  fads  were  not  as  he  supposed,  to  wit,  that 
he  was  commander-in-chief  in  the  actions  of  the  Sth  and  Utli,  and  that  the 
country  was  then,  for  the  //j-.s/  time,  com|iicrcd  and  taken  possession  of; 
if  theso  facts  fail  him  as  they  do,  then  his  now  claim  to  command  in 
Calil'tirnia  fails  also  ;  and  Commodore  Stockton,  a.s  commander-in-chief 
on  the  8lh  and  '.Mh,  hecomes  the  .sect)nd  time  the  comiueror.  That  the 
rest  may  he  well  conceived,  from  the  circumslances  under  which  thoy 
were  issue<l,  ns  well  as  from  their  terms. 

"The  navy  h.ad  iii'cn  cliar;i<Ml,  from  the  liCL'inniiif;-  oi'  ihc  war  (and 
before  it  in  initicipation),  with  the  exdu.-'ive  con(|uest,  prescrvalion  and 
f^ovcrnmeiit,  in  California.  Ingivin<?  a  military  ollicer  orders  to  go  into 
California  to  contjuer,  kc,  &c.,  the  contingency  that  everything  required 
to  1)!  dorie  might  have  been  already  done,  was  too  oljvious  to  be  over- 
looked, and  would  naturally  be  provided  for  in  nuiking  the  military 
instructions  conditional. 

"The  naval  instruction.^  say:  'Previous  instructions  have  informed 
you  of  the  intentions  of  this  government,  pending  the  war  with  Mexico, 
to  take  and  hold  i)Ossession  of  California.  *  »  «  *  Tlie  object 
of  tlie  I'liitcd  Stales  is,  under  its  right  as  a  belligerent  nation,  to  possess 
itself  entirely  of  r[)per  California.  *  »  *  The  object  of  the 
United  States  has  reference  to  ultimate  peace  with  Mexico  ;  aud  if,  »t 


I  ; 


i  I 


i 


276 


IM'K    AND    HKU\  lr|.:s    «»|.'    ,Im||N    C    KliKMoNT. 


timt  pence,  the  linMiM  <)f  llie  itli  /xtssitlitls  sliull  Ite  eHtablislied,  the  fjovern- 
ment  expects,  thfouifh  i/our /nrrrn,  to  he  in  actiml  posxessioii  of"  Upper 
Cnlirorniu.  •  •  *  Tliin  will  tniii;,' with  it  ihe  iifccssity  of  ii  civil 
admiiii.strntifm.  Siicii  ii  ^'dvciimiciil  kIkiiiIiI  !)«•  oiaMiali'-ii  iiiidcr  your 
jirotcclioii.  «  •  *  J-'oryoin  rmUuT  iii>lriicli(tii,  I  iiulu^i- toyoii  a  copy 
of  coiilldciitiai  iiiHtnictioiis  Iroiii  the  War  Department  l»t  |{ii;,'adi«'r  (Iciieral 
Kcanicv.  wiitt  is  ordered  overland  to  ('aliiinnia.  Yon  vviii  al>o  coniinnnicutc 
yonr  instrnctionM  to  liini,  and  inlVnin  him  that  they  inivc  the  nanctiun  o( 
the  I'rcsident.' 

"  Tiicse  icsdiictions  were  not  received  by  Connno(h)re  Stockton,  hut 
were  anticipated  liy  him,  and  tiiis  anticipation  obtained  tor  him  thn 
express  a]tprolialiitn  (d'  tlie  President.  T\u'  dispatch  of  tlie  f)tli  of 
NovendxT,  fiom  tlie  Seerelaiy  of  the  Navy  to  the  commodore,  contained 
this  clause  in  nd'erence  to  his  operations  in  California  :  '  And  it  is  iii;;hly 
gratifying  that  so  mut  h  has  been  done  in  anticipation  of  the  orders  wiuch 
have  been  transmitted.' 

•'  This  wa.s  written  n(>ar  four  nionllis  after  the  transmission  of  the  orders 
of  •Inly  1*2,  and  is  a  full  ratilicution  of  all  that  had  been  done  in  antici- 
patiiMi  of  them. 

Hut  a  hi<^her  view  remains  lo  be  taken  of  the  conditional  character  of 
the  instructions  todeneral  'vcarncy,  a  view  which  involves  their  absolute 
repeal  ami  nullity,  unless  understood  conditionally;  and  I  am  advised  by 
counsel  thai  even  that  understaiidini;  t)f  them  cannot  .sive  them  from  fho 
fate  of  total  aliiojralion  until  sulKeipu  iitly  revived  liy  the  instructions  of 
the  ftth  of  November,  ISb'..  A  few  dates  and  facts  establish  this  view. 
The  inslructi«»ns  to  (leiieral  Kearney,  on  which  he  relies  for  his  authority, 
arc  dated  (he  iinl  and  ISili  of  June,  Isji'i.  Now,  it  s<»  ha|>pens  that,  on 
the  I'Jiii  day  of  duly,  in  the  month  following',  instriU'tions  of  the  most 
peremptory  chaiaeter  were  di-ipatched  to  Commodore  Sloat  to  concpier, 
btdd,  and  u'overu  ralifornia,  and  to  let  (Jeneral  Kearney  know  of  these 
insiruetioiis,  and  that  tlu-y  hid  the  sanction  of  the  President.  Jlere  arc 
o.\trat-ts  from  the  orders  to  Commodore  Sloat  ;  and,  although  they  did 
not  leai'h  his  liands,  nor  those  of  his  siu'cessor,  Comniodore  Stockton, 
until  after  the  country  w;is  eoiiiiuercd,  \(M,  1  am  advised  to  say,  their 
t'lVect  is  the  same  upon  liii--  prosecution.  This  is  not  case  of  an  olHcer 
proseeuted  for  not  obeying  instructions,  in  which  case  it  must  be  shown 
they  came  to  his  hands;  but  it  is  a  proseeution  agiiin.st  mo,  as  successor 
to  (io\enu)r  Stockton,  for  dol.iji  what  the  instructions  commanded.  In 
this  case,  the  anticipation  of  tlie  orders  is  an  additional  merit  in  comply- 
ing with  them;  and  such  is  the  case  with  the  orders  in  cpiestion. 

"The.se  instructions  are    near   a   month   later  than   tho.se  to  General 


Tin;    DKI'KNCF. 


ll'ttT  of 

l)Solutc 

isi'd  hy 

>iii  tliu 

lUS  of 

view. 

lority, 

iit,  on 

most 

)U(pu'r, 

tllt'SO 

ro  lire 
cy  (lid 
■»i'Uton, 
,  their 
(illicor 
si  1  own 
•lossor 
d.  In 
omply- 


Kpftfnoy,  and  not  only  cspctially  ('(nifidt'  lliu  coiujiicst,  prcscrviition,  and 
civil  ^'ovrrniiM'iil  of  ("nlilornia  to  llic  imva!  toiiiiiiandtTM,  hut  rt'tjiiiro  llio 
naval  fort'cs  to  iiold  the  coiMitry  till  the  pcufi',  and  din'rt  (Jcnoral  Kcunu-y 
to  Im>  ihforiMcd  an-ordiii^'ly  ;  and  fiirlhi'i'  iiitoriiifd  that  all  this  instnii** 
tion  to  the  naval  coiiiiiiaiidrrs  had  thi>  siiiution  of  tlw  I'rcsidcnt. 

"  I,  with  tlir  hattalioii  I  coiiiiiiaiiilt'd,  was  part  of  the  naval  fori'o  to 
wliifh  this  duty  was  loiifidcd.  (('oiiiniodorc  Stockton's  tfstinioiiy,  iJTtli 
day.)  This  order  rcinaiiicd  in  foree  until  the  instnietions  of  the  nth  of 
Novt'inher  arrived  in  California,  whieh  was  not  until  the  llUh  day  of 
February,  1817,  ano  which  wkkk  nkvkii  commimcatki)  to  mk,  asi»  of 

■\Vni(;lI    I    HKMAINKI)    TOTALITY     MJNOKANT    Til. I,    SIN(K    TIIK    COMM  KN(  KM  KNT 

OK  THIS  THiAt,.  Neither  (ieneral  Kearney,  Coiiiiiiodon^  Shiiitriek,  or 
('Onunodoi'u  Biddle,  ooiiiinuniealid  them  to  nie,  although  I  was  then 
poveriior  and  eoininantler-in-chief  ia  ('alii'ornia,  tnider  the  oonunission  of 
Conmiodore  Stoekton,  to  whom  the  instructions  of  the  ath  of  November 
were  addressed;  nor  were  they  conniunicated  .to  Commodore  Stockton 
himself,  until  more  than  a  month  after  they  had  been  received.  They 
were  evidently  concealed  from  me,  for  a  purpose  not  yet  exjilained.  Hy 
these  instruction.s  the  military  and  civil  duties,  conlided  to  the  navy, 
were  transferred  to  the  commanding;  ollicer  on  land;  another  i)roof  that 
the  land-ollicer  did  not  then  possess  them,  and  that  ollicer  was  .specially 
named  ns  General  Kearney  or  Colonel  Mason. 

"  The  instruction  says  :  '  The  President  has  deemed  it  best,  for  the 
public  interests,  to  invest  the  viiHttir;/  olHcer  coininandin}:^  with  the 
direction  of  the  operations  on  land,  and  with  the  culm iiiint rat ive  funetiona 
of  governnient  over  the  people  and  territory  occupied  l)y  us.  You  will 
rrlhiquish  to  Colonel  Mason,  or  to  (Jeneral  Kearney,  if  the  latter  shall 
arrive  before  you  have  done  so,  the  entire  control  over  these  matters, 
and  'turn  over'  to  him  all  papers  necessary  to  the  performanc*;  of  his 
duties.  If  oflicers  of  the  navy  are  employed  in  the  performance  of  civil 
or  military  duties,  you  will  ^\l♦hdraw  or  continue  them,  at  your  discre- 
tion, takinj*  care  to  jint  them  to  their  appropriate  duty  in  the  scpiadron, 
if  the  urmy  ollicer  commanding  does  not  wish  their  services  on  land.' 

"  T'ntil  this  dispatch  was  received  by  the  naval  connnanders,  those 
of  July  the  rjth  abro;xating  those  to  General  Kearney,  remained  in  i'uU 
force  ;  and  it  was  only  by  virtue  of  these  orders,  of  the  oth  of  November, 
thiit  he  acquired  the  command,  nnlitarily  or  civilly,  in  California.  And 
it  is  in  evidence  that  Conunodore  Shubrick  had  received  these  instruc- 
tions, of  the  I'ith  of  July,  at  the  time  that  General  Kearney  visited  him 
at  Monterey,  and  had  consultations  with  him,  and  was  sent  by  him  in  a 
nhip  10  Ycrva  Uuena,  and  that  he  made  known  to  General  Kearney,  at 


!!■ 

( 

'f 

r  ii 

r 

!:1   1, 

i 
1 

III 


If 

iilil 


ii7S 


MiK  AM>  8i;uvici:b  or  joiin  c.  I'Ki:m»»nt. 


(hnt  tinio,  that  tlio  nivval  ooniniiiiidcM's  woro  cliurtr''*!  with  tlifl  whole  con- 
fUK'^t,  (Iflniif  iiikI  f,'(»vcrmiiriit  (if  ('Mlironiui  ;  jiidI  tlwil  tlicy  ((iciii'ral 
Kt'ai'iiry  ami  ('oiiiMioilort-  Sluiliciik )  niiiliiallv  ii;;ri'(>cl  not  Id  (li>liirli  the 
existing'  >lalc  nt  alliiir.^  iiiiiil  thr  ^'iiM-riiiiiciii  had  liirlhcr  ln'cii  hcani  trniii. 

'*  ll  is  iliMi'  tli:il  iht'  iii-tnuiioMS  to  liit-  (iilHriiil  Idiiindm-  ol  ihr  mt- 
Vioo  were  not  pr(»|»i'rly  c«)ii>i.-*tt'iit,  ami  liial  touriiiiciiriM  iiii/;lii  liave 
arisen  under  llicni  tliat  would  have  neeessarilv  [n'ddiiced  a  i(iiilliri  of 
uuliu)iity  ;  lint  it  is  also  clear  lliat  it  was  tlie  intent  of  the  j,'it\irniiu  ut 
tluit  the  right  and  duly  of  the  navy  to  e«)n(iuer,  preserve  and  govern 
Caiilornia  should  renuiin  eoni|>lete  atid  entire  until  the  arrival  of  tiie 
instruetions  of  Noveinher  r)tli,  ami  that  no  eoncurrenco  tliil  arise  that, 
under  tlie  |>lain  interpretation  tif  the  army  instructions,  could  justify  a 
colli.-ion.  All  this  is  iairly  staled  l)y  the  Secretary  of  the  Navy,  Mr. 
Mnson,  under  the  express  orders  of  t'  ?  President,  in  a  dispatch  of  the 
lull  of  June,  1S47,  directed  to  the  naval  conimunding  ollicer  ou  the 
California  station. 

"  That  dispatch  contains  these  passages  : 

•'  '  The  7ni.siip/ir(fir)islnu  between  the  eonnnanding  ollicers  of  the  arrny 
nnd  navy  in  California,  which  is  mentioned  in  the  lelier  of  Coiniiiodore 
Shul)riel\,  ahove  referred  to,  must  long  since-  have  lic'ii  removed  hy  the 
Vertj  tU'lilUit  iuxtriiciiohs  irhirli  htliv  si hvc  Ini  )i  rtri/n.tl  in  ilint  cntintrif, 
*  *  *  *  At  the  commencement  of  the  war  with  Mt'xico 
the  United  States  had  no  militaiy  force  in  California  of  any  descri[ition 
whatever,  aitd  ffir  criK/ncst  of  tliat  coimtri/  was  from  necessity,  thvrvfore, 
divolitd  I xvlusirelji  \tfion   the  nar;/.       *  *       The   con(|iiest  brought 

with  it  the  necessity  of  a  temporary  civil  government,  ami,  on  the  12th 
of  July,  IHlt'i,  Commodore  Sloat  was  informed  that  such  a  f/overinnent 
nhou/d  he  exiafUishrd  under  his  protection.  Contrary  to  all  expectation  this 
dispatch  did  not  reach  California  iiiifilthearrieal  tlure  of  Ueneral  Kearney. 

"'On  the  ."Jth  of  Novend)er,  1S40,  Commodore  Stockton  was  informed 
tlmt  I  lie  President  has  deemed  it  best  lor  the  public  interests  to  invest 
the  military  ollicer  eomnnuiding  with  the  direction  of  the  operations  on 
land,  and  with  the  adniinisfratire  fniictions  over  the  people  and  territory 
occupied  hy  i<s.  He  was  also  directed  to  relinquish  to  Colomd  Mason,  or 
to  (leneral  Kearney,  if  the  latter  should  arrive  before  he  had  done  so,  the 
entire  control  over  these  matters,  and  to  turn  over  to  him  all  pajjcrs 
necessary  to  the  performani'e  of  his  duties.  It  was  htlicved  that  even 
this  dispatch  mif/ht  anticipate  the  arrival  in  California  of  General 
Kearney. 

"'SiMiLAU  instructions  were  coniniunioated  to   Commodore  Stock 


tore, 

2th 

tent 

this 

•nt'f/. 

•uwaI 

ivrst 

t.v  on 

Hory 

II,  or 

the 

LjK'rs 

even 

iieral 


T4IE    DITKNCK. 


07a 


ton  iinrlor  <1ato  of  ,A/»>//rr»/ M,  1S47,  iind  wcrf  rt'novvoil  (o  romiiindoro 
SliuhricU  iimliT  iliiti'  of  .!/«((/  In,  \x\!.  A  i(i|>y  of  ihiwc  l;is,  iii~tiuc- 
tioMM,  whiivli  oil  thin  fiiltjfct  an-  very  lull  iiml  ili-itiiicl,  i.rc  licrcwith 
ClU'losnl.' 

"  All  tliisc  (li»|);it(licfl  Wert'  too  liitc.  Till'  ini-i'liiff  wa-<  all  iloiif  licforo 
tlii'V  urilvcd,  ami  they  h-avc  tln'  naval  otlicnM  i()iii|il(tcly  jiistilird,  ami 
Gi'iicraj  Ki'ariify  wliolly  without  t'Xfiisc  tor  atii'miiiiiiir  10  make  hiiiisclt' 
povciMor  of  California  in  a  raso  not  conh  iii|>laiiMl  hy  his  in^'tnu'tion.'", 
nml  in  \vhi<h  In-  would  have  to  i-oiiiniciuf  with  ilisorpiiii/iiip;  an  csla- 
l)li<hi'(l  civil  L'nVfninH'iit  licforc  ho  (.(hiM  Ipririn  to  orjranizt'  one.  Ilis 
whole  (.•omliut,  IVoin  the'  day  ho  mot  Mr.  ("arson,  was  oontrary  to  tho 
Intont  and  moanin;^  of  his  instruotions.  IIo  was  to  cominor  Califoriiiii ; 
it  was  alroaily  conqiiortMl.  He  was  to  ostahlish  a  oivil  ^'ovoriiinoiU  ;  it 
vas  alroaily  done.  IIo  wan  to  load  an  Hriny  to  Caliiornia ;  lie  took  only 
n  porsonal  osoort.  IIo  tiiriiod  hai'k  two-thirds  of  his  drapoons  ;  ho 
fihould  havo  turiicil  hack  tiio  wholo,  and  liiinsidf  with  thoin.  IIo  should 
not  havo  applioil  to  (iovoriior  Stotdvtoii  to  solid  him  aid  to  San  I'asipiai, 
und  to  tho  l.ill  of  Sai.  Moriiiirdo,  if  in"  iiiiiMidod  to  o(»iitoMd  wiih  liim  lor 
Biipromary  aficr  ho  ^'ot  thdo.  !lr  should  not  havo  allomptoil  to  foumi  a 
claim  to  tho  povoriiorship  on  iho  victories  of  tho  Sth  and  lHh  of  .l.iini.irv, 
nftor  tho  rofutation  of  his  claim  hy  Comiuoiloro  Stockton  at  San  Uic'.'o. 
He  .should  not  luivo  protended  to  havo  lH>on  commaiidcr-in-cliief  on  thu 
miiivh  to  Los  Anf^olos,  in  order  to  found  upon  it  a  olaim  to  tho  frovornor- 
ship  in  rif,'ht  of  coiKpiost.  IIo  should  not,  ovoii  if  tho  httor  of  his 
instructions  had  Ixtriie  him  out  (which  th^v  did  not),  liavo  attempted  to 
take  tho  fruits  of  oomiuost  from  those  who  had  coiKpierod  tho  country 
boforo  ho  came  to  it,  and  without  who.so  helping  hand  ho  could  not  havo 
got  to  it. 

"  I  havo  now  niado  clear  tho  riirht  of  fiovornor  Stockton,  under  wlioiu 
I  hold  the  governorship  of  California  at  tho  time  of  the  act  done,  which 
i-**  charged  in  the  specifications  under  examination  to  he  governor  iiini- 
solf,  upon  his  own  assumption  of  tiio  oflice,  and  afterwards  to  appoint 
mollis  successor;  and  that  those  governors!;!;'?  wvvc  Valid  under  the 
law  of  nations,  until  disapproved  hy  the  President,  or  tho  incumhouts  in 


some    wav    lawfullv   relieved   or 


(II 


scl 


lartrod. 


11. 


iiviiijr  done   this. 


I 


am 


instructed  by  coun.sid  to  resume  my  original  position,  as  in  the  letter  of 
the  ntli  January,  in  declaring  that  all  this  dilhculty  in  California  was  a 
question  between  my  two  sui)oriors,  which  should  have  been  settled  by 
the  governmont  between  them,  and  not  sotth d  in  my  person  liy  trying 
me  for  mutiny  and  disoboihcnce  against  one  of  them — charges  to  which 
I  might  have  been  well  exposed  in  disobeying  the  other.     And  I  am  fur- 


f 


'i  i 


III 


i'li 


!  I 


! 


280 


LIFE   AND   SKRVICI'IS   OF   JOHN   C.    FREMONT. 


-,l 


ther  instructed  by  counsel  to  renew,  and  to  repeat,  in  the  most  solemn 
manner,  the  Protest  heretofore  filed  in  the  War  (  ITice  by  them,  in  niy 
name,  afijainf^t  the  ii.m-koamty  and  injustice  of  thus  trying  me  for  the 
acts  of  (/Oiinnodorc  Stockton  and  (ieneral  Kearney,  or  for  declining  the 
responsll)ility  of  settling  their  disputes  of  authority, 

"  2.  The  second  head  of  my  defence,  in  answer  to  these  two  specifica- 
tions is,  that  General  Kearney  at  that  time  had  no  right  to  command  the 
battalion  to  wiiich  the  order  of  the  IGtli  of  January  was  applicable.  The 
argument  heretofore  made  on  this  point,  is  referred  to  witliout  repeating 
it,  to  show  that  this  battalion  was  part  of  the  naval  forces  under  Com- 
modore Stockton,  and  that  ic  was  my  duty,  as  slated  in  my  letter  of 
the  17th  of  January,  to  continue  to  receive  orders  from  him  in  relation 
to  it. 

"  3.  The  third  head  of  my  defence  to  these  two  specifications  is,  that 
the  order  of  the  Kith  of  January,  1817,  besides  being  illegal  in  itself, 
had  no  relation  to  ary  otiier  change  in  the  battalion  than  the  changes 
intended  at  the  time  it  was  given.  This  illegality  has  been  heretofore 
shown,  both  as  being  issued  without  authority  by  General  Kearney,  but 
also  because  it  was  in  positive  violation  of  the  riglits  of  the  men,  most 
of  whom  had  engaged  for  the  ex|)edition  alone,  and  that  being  over, 
were  entitled,  by  their  contract  and  by  law,  to  their  discharge.  Many 
were  accordingly  discharged,  and  others  engaged,  and  all  for  the  neces- 
sary service  of  the  country,  and  under  my  authority  as  governor  and 
commander-in-chief.  The  nullity  of  the  order,  as  being  founded  on  the 
familiar  note  of  information  extracted  from  me  by  General  Kearney,  and 
perverted  into  a  military  official  report,  placing  myself  and  the  battalion 
under  his  command,  has  heretofore  been  shown  ;  and  the  facts  and  argu- 
ments adduced  on  that  point  are  now  referred  to,  without  being  repeated, 
as  applicable  to  this  order  of  the  llUh  of  January,  at  its  present  '■epro- 
duction,  and  as  often  as  it  shall  be  produced  hereafter.  Illegal  and  null 
as  it  was  for  the  purj^se  of  its  issue,  it  is  clear  this  order  had  no  rela- 
tion, at  the  time  it  issued,  to  anything  but  the  re-organization  then 
intended,  and  which  resulted  from  discharges  proper  to  be  made,  and 
promoting  Captain  Gillespie  into  my  place,  I  being  that  day  commis- 
sioned as  governor  and  couniiander-in-chief,  to  take  effect  on  Commodore 
Stockton's  departure.  The  circumstances  of  the  order,  delivered  in  the 
night,  limited  it  to  that  immediate  impending  operation.  Tlie  charges, 
as  preferred  by  General  Kearney,  so  limited  it,  he  having  testified  before 
this  court  that  he  preferred  but  a  single  charge  (understood  to  bo 
mutiny) ;  that  these  were  not  his  charges  ;  that  they  had  been  changed. 
This  can  only  mean  that  he  has  not  extended  the  order  of  the  16th  of 


THE   DKT-KNCE. 


i>8l 


before 
to   bo 

hanged. 

16th  of 


January  to  subsequent  acts — to  changes  subsequently  made  in  the  bat- 
taHon.  With  this  corresponds  his  testimony  l)eforc  this  court  (9th  day, 
near  the  close),  that  he  left  no  orders  for  me  when  he  left  Los  Angeles. 
The  question  then  put  to  (Jeiieriil  Keuniey  >'n  this  j)oint  was,  ^  Did  jion 
leave  any  orders  for  Lie.utiinant-(hlouel  Fremont^  or  take  leave  of  him, 
or  give  notice  to  him  of  your  goinrf  away,  or  let  him  knoio  where  yon  tocre 
going  f  The  answer  is,  '  I  did  not ;'  tliis  answer  applying  categorically 
and  negativfly  to  all  four  points  of  the  interrogatory,  and  establishing 
the  fact  '^at  Genci\il  Kearney  left  Los  Angeles  without  leaving  any  orders 
for  me,  without  taking  U  ave  of  me,  without  giving  me  notice  that  he 
was  going  away,  and  without  letting  me  know  where  he  was  going ;  and 
I  am  instructed  by  counsel  to  say,  that  it  is  carrying  the  doctrine  of 
constructive  criminality  rather  too  far  (oven  if  General  Kearney  had  been 
my  lawful  and  acknowledged  commander),  to  construe  into  the  crimes  of 
mutiny  and  disobedience  of  orders,  and  of  conduct  prejudicial  to  good 
order  and  discipline,  any  act  done  after  he  was  gone,  when  I  had  no  pos- 
sible guide  but  my  own  discretion. 

"  ^Specification  8,  under  the  charge  of  mutiny,  and  also  for  disobedi- 
ence of  orders,  is,  for  the  order  of  Louis  McLane,  Esq.,  of  the  TTnited 
States  navy,  in  his  character  of  major  of  artillei-y  in  the  California  ser- 
vice, to  make  further  enlistments,  and  to  examine  into  the  defences  of 
the  country.  The  answer  to  this  specification  is  the  same  as  heretofore, 
both  with  respect  to  (ieneral  Kearney's  authority,  and  my  own  rights 
and  duties  as  governor  and  commaiuler-in-chief  in  Calii'ornia,  and  the 
nullity  and  inapplicability  of  the  order  of  January  Itjth,  1847. 

^^  Spccijication  4,  under  the  charge  of  mutiny,  is  based  on  the  letter 
of  Fel)ruary  Yth,  18  tY,  to  Commodore  Shubrick — a  letter  which  is  set  out 
in  full  in  the  specification. 

"The  offence  imputed  is  twofold;  first,  mutiny,  in  assuming  to  be 
governor ;  and  second,  mutiny,  in  endeavoring  to  entice  Commodore 
Shubrick  to  countenance  and  abet  me. 

"The  letter  was  written  in  answer  to  one  from  Commodore  Shubrick 
to  me,  and  I  received  another  in  reply ;  that  in  reply  I  will  now  intro- 
duce, to  show  that  at  least  Commodore  Shubrick  himself  did  not  look 
upon  what  I  had  written  in  the  light  in  .vhich  the  ingenuity  of  this  prose- 
cution has  contrive  1  to  repi'csent  it. 

"  '  U.  S.  Ship  Indkpendekcb,  } 

HAJinoR  OF  MoNTERKY,  Fehriuii'1/  13, 1S47.  ) 

"'Sir:  I  have  the  honor  to  acknowledge  the  receipt  of  your  letter  of 
the  7th  instant,  and  shall  detain  your  courier  as  short  a  time  as  possible 


2S2 


LIFK    AND    SKUVICKS    OF    JOHN     C.    FKKMONT. 


i; 


1 ; 


for  my  answer,  atul  will  iiiso  iivail  myself  of  your  kind  oner,  to  forward 

dispalclics  H)  till'  I'liiltMl  States. 

"  '  When  1  wrote  t!)  yon  on  tlie  'J.'itli  nltiino,  1  was  not  informed  of  the 
arriviil  ol'  iSii  lier  (ieiuTal  Kearney  in  Calil'ornia,  and  addressed  you  as 
the  si'nior  ,iiieer  of  tiu'  army  in  the  territory;  on  the  2Hth,  liowever, 
lijivin^'  understood  that  the  general  was  ut  Lo.s  Angeles,  1  addressed  a 
simihir  letter  to  him. 

"'On  the  Sih  instant,  (Jeneral  Kearney  arrived  in  ti. Is  harbor,  in  the 
sloop-oi'-Wiir,  Cyane,  and  lel't  by  the  same  eonveyanee  on  tiie  llth,  for 
San  l''rnneiseo.  While  the  "^'eneral  was  here,  we  eonsulted  fully,  as  en- 
joined on  me  by  my  instruetions,  and  on  him  by  his,  on  the  measures 
necessary  to  be  taUen  by  us  for  the  security  of  the  territory  of  Califor- 
nia. 

"'I  am  looking  daily  for  the  arrival  of  Commodore  Stockton  in  this 
harlior,  when  1  shall,  of  eouise,  receive  from  him  a  full  account  of  the 
measures  taken  by  him  while  in  command  of  the  sipiadron. 

"'  It  is  to  be  hoped  that  the  pleasurt"  of  the  I'resident  of  the  I'nited 
Stat(>s  on  the  subject  of  the  organization  ol'  a  civil  government,  and  of 
the  ini'asures  taken  by  Commoiiore  Stockton  ami  yourself,  nu\\  be  soon 
known,  iiiid  it  will  give  me  ])leasure  at  all  times  to  co-operate  with  the 
oivil  goveinment,  as  wrll  as  with  the  military  conunander-in-chief,  for  the 
jieaci^  and  secui'ily  ol' (lie  territory. 

"  '  I  regret  to  say  that,  not  anticipating  any  unusual  draft  on  thom,  tlie 
fuiuls  brought  by  me  ar(>  barely  snilicienr,  with  the  most  eeononncal  ex- 
penditure, to  meet  the  wants  of  tlu!  scjuadron. 

"  '  J  am,  very  respectfully,  sir,  your  most  obedient  servant, 

"  '  W.    IJUANKOKO    SllUHKICK, 

''  '  Comina)idcr-iH-ch'uJ\  U.  S.  naval  forces. 
*' '  Lieutenant  Colonel  Fkkmont,  &c.,  &c.,  &c.' 

"The  i>lain  deductions  of  this  letter  are,  that  Commodore  Shnltrick 
and  (ieneral  Kearney,  having  met  at  Monterey,  l>ad  eonsulted  together, 
eompared  their  several  instructions,  agreed  upon  their  respective  powers, 
and  arranged  the  course  of  action  iliey  judged  proper.  All  this  appears 
in  the  third  i)aragraph.  What  the  course  of  action  agreed  upon  was,  is 
to  be  drawn  from  the  fifth  jiai'agraph  ;  and  the  neces^a^y  inference  is, 
that  it  had  been  found  either  not  eomiietent,  or  not  proper,  to  disturb 
the  existing  ^tate  of  alVairs,  bel'ore  'the  |)lea,<ure  of  the  President' 
phould  be  i'ui'ther  asccrtaiiu'd.  Tlu'  leitei'  does  not  bear  any  other  inter- 
pretation ;  so  that,  wliatever  the  tenui'c  of  my  ollice  as  goverxor  may 
Lave  been  previously,  this  amounts  in  the  legal  phrase,  to  quieting  me  in 


fri'siili'ut 
IliLT  iiit».'r- 
rxor  uiiiy 
ny  me  in 


BTOCK'KJJS    AM)   KKAKNEY. 


283 


poxaes/fion,  by  common  constTit,  till  siicli  time  as  tlio  govornmont  at 
lioiiif  should  (lirci't  (liU'crcntly  or  dclinitiv  ci) .  Tlii-  is  tlu'  pliiiii  iiii|)()rt 
ol'tlic  IcItiT,  aiid  it' lU-ytiiiiiL'' conliMry  to  if  \v;ii  iiilriidi'il,  I  never  liearil 
ol' it,  nor  was  iinytliinLj  ('(inirai'v  done,  till  more  tlian  two  weeks  al'trr  tlm 
ooiitiiij,'enc'y  rescrveil  (liirtlier  iiistriietioiis  from  ilie  ^'overnmeiii )  iiad 
happened.  Tliat  1  did  not  miseonstnir  Hiis  letter,  as  1  reeeived  it  then, 
and  as  eirriimstaiioes  jiistilied  my  eonstrni.'iiun  of  it,  is  rendered  certain 
by  the  additional  li^dit  whitdi  1  have  upon  it  now.  Tins  adililional  lij^iit 
JH  found  ill  the  disi)at(Ii  o<'  Commoilori'  Siiub'ick  to  the  eovernmeiil,  of 
even  date  with  the  above  letter  to  me.     Jii  this  dispaleh  is  the  following: 

"'Sir  :  Pinee  my  letters  of  the  '2(U'-,  'i7th,  and  "iSlh  tiltimo,  jio  impf)r- 
taiit  ehaii^e,  so  far  as  I  ran  learn,  has  taken  place  in  the  territory.  The 
I)eo|)ii'  si'em  to  be  settlini^  down  into  (piiet  ae(|iiie,-eenee  in  tin  rhuniio. 
of  <i<>vi  ymiK-iit.  Tiiose  liesi  aei|iiaiiited  with  their  temper  and  di-po.-ition, 
do  not  ajiprehetid  fnrther  disiuihanci'  of  tlie  jpeaee  (d'  the  eoiititry. 

"  '  (ii'iieral  Kearney  ;i)'ri\ed  here  on  the  stii,  in  tlie  sloop-of-war 
(■yaiie;  and,  after  the  addjition  of  such  measnre-;  as  we  thoHLdit  iieei'S- 
sary  here,  /  xinl  Jiini  In  Smi  I'miicisio^  in  tlie  Cyaiie,  to  which  place  I 
ulioiild  have  accoiiipained  him,  Inn  th.at  I  am  looiiinu-  daily  for  the  ari'ival 
of  Commodore  Stdelitrni  from  San  [»ie;j(),  and  it  is  important  that  [ 
should  rcci'ive  his  reports  before  I  iro  further. 

"' You  will  have  learned  er<'  this  that  an  unfortimnte  dilfereiice  has 
taken  ])lace  between  Commodore  Stockton  and  (leneral  Keaiiu'y,  and 
between  lite  ji-eneral  and  ("olom  1  Tremoiit,  i;rowin^''  out  of  the  uppnint- 
incut  of  ('o/oiii'l  FriDh  lit  OH  riril  (jovtriior  <if  ('(t/ifoniiit  hii  thr  vouinio- 
dore,  and  the  refusal  of  the  colonel  to  recogiii/o  the  authority  of  tiio 
general. 

"'1  have,   as  enjoineil  on  nu'  by  my  instnu'tions,  exchanged  ojiiniona 
with  (Jcut'ral   KeariU'y,  and    shall  rimlhnic  to   cntcirt  with  him  snch.  tin  a 
Siircs  (IS  1)1(111  srciii  Itrsf  for  keeping  (piiet  possession  of  Califorina. 

"  '  With  regard  to  the  civil  government  ol'  territory,  untliorihi  for  the 
establishment  of  which  is  contnined  in  your  iu-;tructions  to  ('(uumodore 
Sloat,  of  12th  July  last,  which  I  received  by  tiie  Lexington,  measures 
have    been,    in    my  opinion,  prr/inifurrli/  fnk,  ,1  by  Commodore  Siockt 


on. 


and 


ail 


(i/>jfi<>/ !,  /iiintt,  of  '/')('<  riioi'  until -^  ol    a   gentleman  who,  1  am  led  to 


believe,  i.«  not  acce|)talile  to  the  people  of  ('.iliibi  iiia  ;   //.'■'  a-  the  intention 
to  mak?  the  ap])()iulim'iit  was,  I  undersland,  eommuuii  aled   ui   the 


'resi- 


iialion   as   to  hi<    w  i-l;e-  ma  v  lie 


dent  a.s   early  as  .August   last,   and   iid'ori 

POOn  expected,    /   Ikii'i:  (!■  imii'l  iik]   tn  dirull  sii-Ji   iiif'oriiKil'iDi,   ;i'id  eo'.ilillO 

mys(df  for  the   present,  to  arrangements  for'  the  ijuiif   j,:.;sf.'isliiii   ,>j   Ike 
territory,  and  for  the  blockade  of  the  coast  of  Mexico." 


n 

V': 


I 


|ii  ■; 


■     !■ 


■!>■: 


i  '! 


!    . 


28 1 


LIFE   AND   SERVICES   OF   JOHN    0.    Flii:M()NT. 


"Now,  tliis  is  conclusivp  of  Commodore  Slnihrick's  intontiong  and  opin- 
ions, his  vit'ws  of  Ills  authority,  iiml  of  the  manner  ho  determined  to  ex- 
oreise  it.  It  is  eonclusive  tliat  thouj,,'h  he  was  pleasi-d  to  impute  prccipi- 
tnni'if  to  (lie  action  of  Comuuxlore  Stocl<ton,  and  had  been  'led  to 
believe'  that  tlie  a|»i»oiiitmeut  made  l<y  him  was  not  of  the  rij^ht  sort  of 
u  person,  yet  that  he  did  not  (piestion  its  lej^ality,  nor  the  authority  for 
niai<iiig  it.  It  is  also  eonelusive  that  whatever  doubts  he  had  as  to  tho 
proprivfy  of  the  apfiointment  made  by  Commodore  Stockton,  he  did  not 
feel  authorized,  even  under  the  powers  whieh  he  held,  to  disturb  it ;  or 
at  least  that  he  declined  to  do  so.  Not  to  disturl),  was  to  continue  ;  '  <o 
awnW  the  information  from  the  government,  concerning  the  appoint- 
ment, was  to  recognize  the  appointment  in  the  meantime,  and,  in  efleet 
(if  that  had  l)een  necessary),  to  eonfn'm  it. 

"Such  was  the  action  of  Commodore  Shulrick  after  a  comparison  of 
his  instructions  with  those  of  General  Ke.nrney,  after  consultation  with 
that  ollicer ;  and  such  was  the  eifeet  of  that  action  upon  m,v  appoint- 
ment. 

"  I  now  proceed  to  show  that,  in  determining  on  this  course  of  action, 
Connnodore  Shubrick  had  the  agreement  and  ac<iuiescenee  of  General 
Kearney.  This  appears  in  the  ofiicial  dispatch  of  tho  letter  of  l.jth  March, 
which,  after  relating  his  meeting  with  Commodore  Shubrick  at  Monterey, 
on  the  Sth  of  February,  proceeds  as  follows  : 

"  'On  my  showing  to  Commodore  Shubrick  my  instructions  from  the 
War  Department,  of  June  od  and  ISth.  184t»,  he  was  at  once  prepared  to 
pay  all,  proper  rvKpcct  to  them  ;  and  being  at  that  time  the  commander- 
in-chief  of  the  naval  forces  on  this  station,  he  acknowledged  me  as  the  head 
and  cmnnaiiJcr  of  tfie /roops  in  California,  which  Commodore  Stockton 
and  Lieutenant-Colonel  Fremont  had  hitherto  refused.  lie  then  showed 
me  the  instructions  to  Commodore  Sloat  of  July  I'ith,  from  tho  Navy  De- 
partment, received  by  the  Lexington,  at  Valparaiso,  on  the  2d  December, 
and  which  he  had  brought  with  him  from  there  ;  and,  as  they  contained 
dircrtloHs  for  ihvnmodore  Sloat  to  take  charge  of  the  civil  ajfairs  in  (.'all' 
fvr7iia,  I  immediately  told  Commodore  Shubrick  that  /  checrfulli/  acgiii- 
esced,  and  was  ready  to  afford  him  any  assistance  in  my  power.  We 
agreed  upon  our  separate  duties ;  and  /  then  went  to  the  bay  of  San 
Francisco,  taking  with  me  Lieutenant  llalleck,  of  the  engineers,  besides 
Cajjtaiu  Turner  and  Lieutenant  Warner,  when  was  made  a  reconnois- 
eance  of  the  bay,  with  a  view  to  the  selection  of  sites  for  fortifications, 
for  the  protection  of  shipping  in  the  harbor  and  the  security  of  the  land 
forces.' 

"  This  establishes  that  General  Kearney  acknowledged  the  authority  of 
Commodore  Shubric':  over  the  civil  affairs  of  tht  tc  -ritory,  and  acquiesced 


id  opin- 
d  to  ex- 
preripi- 
'It'd    to 
sort  of 
ority  lor 
19  to  the 
>  did  not 
'b  it ;  or 
ime  ;  '  to 
appoint- 
in  elleot 


iirison  of 
lion  with 
■  appoint- 


or action, 
f  GontTal 
th  March, 
Monterey, 

from  the 
oparcd  to 
lunander- 

t/ie  head 
Stockton 

showed 

Navy  De- 

oceniber, 

ontained 

in  ('ali- 
II 1/  acqui- 

vv.  We 
ly  of  Ban 

,  besides 
cconnois- 
itications, 

the  land 

Ihority  of 
teqidcsced 


THE   DEFENCK. 


2S5 


in  the  detorniination  of  that  olTicer  not  to  disturb  Commodore  Stockton's 
appointment  until  further  information  from  tlic  povcrnment ;  and  that 
tlio  two  nijrecd  upon  tlicir  separate  duties  in  the  premises.  This  letter 
also  estal>lishi^  another  important^  circumstance,  viz. :  tlie  true  weight 
and  vahie  attadied  bylieneral  Kearney  himself  to  his  instructions.  '  On- 
s/toii'inif  to  Coiinnvdori'  S/ni/irlck  »////  instructions^  he  irns  at  once  prijntrrd 
to  pull/  (til  propxr  respect  to  thon,  and  hrini/  at  that  time  coinniandrr-iif 
chief  of  the  naval  forces,  he  acknowledijed  me  as  thk  hkao  anm)  com- 
mas dkr  OF  THE  TR()(»ps,"  &c.  The  latter  part  of  the  sentence  rests 
entirely  ujjon  General  Kearney ;  the  letter  of  Commodore  Sliu])rick, 
containing  nothing  of  the  sort,  and  the  phrase  used  in  it  towards  (Jenerol 
Kearney,  viz.  ;  '  /  sent  him  in  the  *^yane,'  &c.,  would  seem  to  imply  tiie 
contrary.  But  grant  General  Kearney'8  position,  and  it  results  tliat  In  hia 
own  estimation  a  '' proper  respect^  to  his  instructions  only  requiro<l  him 
to  be  acknowledged  as  '  the  head  and  commander  of  the  troops,''  and 
that  he  did  not  consider  himself  entitled  under  them  to  interfere  with 
the  civil  affairs.  General  Kearney  adds,  after  stilting  that  '  he  acknow- 
ledged me  as  the  head  and  commander  of  the  troops,'  the  words,  '  which 
Commodore  Stockton  and  Lieutenant-Colonel  Fremont  had  hitherto  re- 
fused.''  Now,  what  is  the  testimony  to  this  point  ?  Commodere  Stock- 
ton testifies  :  '  After  General  Kearney  arrived,  and  in  my  quarters  and  in 
presence  of  two  of  my  military  fiimily,  I  offered  to  make  him  commander- 
in  "hief  over  all  of  us.     He  said  no  ,  that  the  force  ii^as  mine.'' 

"  The  agreement  as  to  their  respective  powers,  between  Commodore 
Shubrick  and  General  Kearney,  and  the  determination  of  the  iuruicr, 
with  the  accpiiescence  of  the  latter,  that  the  state  of  affairs  then  existing 
should  await  further  information  from  home,  was,  no  doubt,  the  legal  and 
proper  course,  and  had  it  been  continued  in,  every  thing  would  have  pro- 
ceeded harmoniously.  It  was  continued  in,  so  far  as  appears,  until  after 
the  receipt  of  tlie  instructions,  which  they  had  determined  to  await.  Tiie 
wrong  consisted  in  not  obeying  those  instructions.  I  put  out  of  view 
entiri'ly,  in  this  connection,  my  right  to  be  lawfully  and  regularly  reliered, 
and  plant  myself  on  t'lo  express  letter  of  the  instructions  of  the  5th  Novem- 
ber. These  are  mar.aatory  to  the  naval  commanders  to  rcliiKjuish  the  con- 
trol of  the  civil  administration,  and  to  '  turn  over '  the  p<ipers  connected 
with  it.  The  oidy  way  in  which  they  could  be  obei/ed  was  for  that  com- 
mander to  inform  me  of  the  order  he  had  received,  and  take  from  my  hands 
the  office,  and  the  archives  connected  with  it,  that  he  might,  as  directed, 
'relinquish' and  '  turn  them  over'  to  General  Kearney.  For  some  purpose 
yet  unexplained — unless  its  object  is  seen  in  this  prosecuiion — tliry  were 
not  obeyed.     I  was  kept  vn  ignorance  of  the  wishes  of  the  government, 


M 


K 


I 


'  1: 


f 


'II 1  ■ 

! 


>P 


liilil 


'Ml 


28G 


LIFE   AND    SKRVICKS   OF   JOHN    C    FUEMONT. 


and  Oonoral  Ivpamoy  nndortook  hy  wrongful  orders  to  Rot  jiossossioii  from 
mc  of  what  lie  could  only  lawfully  rcc  Ivc  from  Coiniiiodorc  Shiii)rirl<. 

"And  on  this  I  K'ltvo  tlu'  dot'ciu'o  of  this  act,  both  where  it  is  clmrged 
as  iiiuiiny,  and  where  a«  an  oll'ence  ap^ainst  discij)line. 

"  Sjnirijicntinn  T),  under  the  charuc  of  mutiny,  is  based  on  tlu^  letter 
to  Mr.  Willard  Hall  and  diarized  as  a  desifjn  to  persuade  him  (Mr.  Hall) 
to  aid  nio  in  my  mutiny  apainst  General  Kearney.  The  tirst  unsw(  r  of 
Mr,  Hall  to  the  first  t,:iesti()n  put  to  him  (:;lst  d«y)  entirely  nef::atived 
that  chari^e.  On  the  day  aft"r  Mr.  Hall  came  into  court,  and  desired  to 
explain  his  testimony.  The  explanation  went  to  show  that  by  the  expres- 
sion ill  the  letter,  'cannot  sidfer  myself  to  be  interfered  with  by  any 
other,'  that  freiieral  Kearney  was  meant.  The  answer  to  the  next  (piestion, 
however,  was,  that  (lener.d  Kearney  was  not  there  at  the  time,  and  that 
Mr.  Hall  did  not  know  wliere  he  was,  and  so  negatived  the  '  explana- 
tion.' Moreover,  as  I  was  not  in  mutiny  myself,  I  could  not  have 
been  inciting  others  to  mutiny.  The  letter  itself  is  all  the  defence  which 
I  make  to  this  specification. 

'■'  Spccijlcnt  11)11  (■),  under  the  charge  of  mutiny,  is  based  on  the  pur- 
chase of  an  island  near  t!  e  mouth  of  the  San  Francisco  Bay,  for  the 
Uniti'd  States,  taking  the  title  to  the  United  States,  and  i)romising  the 
payment  of  ^5,()()0. 

"  My  answer  appears  upon  the  face  of  the  papers,  that  it  was  done 
as  governor,  and  for  the  benefit  of  the  United  States;  a  fact  whicli,  if 
1  understand  ti.e  prosecution,  and  the  decision  of  this  court,  refusing  to 
receive  any  evidence  to  the  point,  is  admitted. 

'■'■  l^l-ici'ijtfntiitn  7,  under  the  charge  of  mutiny,  and  specification  4, 
under  the  idiarge  of  disobedience  of  orders,  are  for  the  same  act  or  acts, 
and  will  be  considered  together.  Not  mustering  the  men  of  the  Califor- 
uia  battalion  for  payment  is  one  of  the  points  of  the  charge  :  the  evidence 
shows  that  the  men,  without  exception,  refused  to  be  mustered.  The 
orticers,  whose  pay  would  not  be  nuiteriallly  affected,  were  willing  to  be 
mustered.  Not  marching  the  battalion  to  Verba  Buena,  and  ordering  it 
to  remain  at  San  Gabriel,  and  ordering  Captain  Owens  not  to  deliver  up 
the  cannon  of  the  battalion,  are  the  essential  points  of  the  rest  of  the 
specification,  with  the  aggravation  of  not  obeying  the  orders  brought  by 
Captain  Turner,  after  promising  to  do  so,  and  disregarding  the  procla- 
mation of  General  Kearney  and  Commodore  Shubrick. 

"The  order  by  Captain  Turner  was  delivered  on  the  11th  of  March  : 
on  the  loth  I  gave  my  orders  to  Captain  Owens,  based  upon  my  intended 
visit  to  Monterey,  and  on  their  face  intended  to  keep  the  troops  iu  a  con- 
dition to  sustain  themselves,  or  to  repel  actual  invasion. 


on  from 

r'u'k. 

chiirgod 

lio  li'ttor 
,lr.  Hall) 

1S\V(  1'  of 

cf:;iitivcd 
fsirod  to 
(>  oxpros- 
\  by  any 
(liR'Stion, 
and  lliat 
'  explana- 
not  have 
ice  which 

I  the  pui- 
f^  for  the 
iii,<nig  the 

I  was  done 
which,  if 
■fusing  to 


fi 


cation  4, 
t  or  acta, 
e  Califor- 
cvidonce 
cd.     The 
nig  to  be 
rdcring  it 
deliver  up 
est  of  the 
rough t  by 
le  procla- 


f  March  : 
intended 
in  a  COU- 


TH K    DF.FEN'CE. 


287 


"No  notice  of  the  President's  instructions  of  tlie  .Ifii  of  Novendior 
was  sent  to  ine,  nor  did  t!ie  joint  proclainiition,  or  any  otlicr  paper  rliat  I 
ever  saw,  refer  to  tliein.  I  was  tlien  governor  and  coM\i:iander-in-i'liief 
in  Calilorniu,  and  had  a  right  to  !)(<  regularly  relieved,  if  any  instiuctions 
had  terminated  my  power,  and  no  one  liad  a  right  to  dejiose  nic  by  force 
and  violence. 

"  Tlie  statement  which  I  shall  now  make,  is  based  upon  the  evidence 
given  \1S'  ditU'rent  witnesses,  who  testified  to  tiie  jioints  I  shall  mention, 
of  whom  Major  (Jillespie,  Colonel  Russell,  r.ienteiiant  Minor,  of  the  navy, 
(,'aptain  Cooke,   l-ieuteiiani,  I<t)ki  r,  were  the  priiuipal. 

"  After  the  cai)itulation  of  ('ouenga,  the  country  imnu'iliately  snb- 
slded  into  |)rofound  tran(|nillity,  and  security  of  life,  person,  and  property, 
liccame  as  complete  as  in  any  part  of  the  United  Stutes.  Travelling  or 
at  home,  single  or  in  eompany,  armed  or  defenceless,  all  were  safe. 
Harmony  and  good  will  prevaii(>d,  and  no  trace  of  the  suppressed  insur- 
rection, or  of  resentment  f^..•  what  was  passed,  was  anywhere  seen.  I 
lived  alone,  after  a  short  tiin(>,  in  the  ancient  capital  of  the  governors 
general  of  Los  Angeles,  without  guards  or  military  ])roteelion ;  the  bat- 
talion having  been  sent  off  nine  miles  to  the  mission  of  San  (Jabriel.  I 
lived  in  the  midst  of  the  people  in  their  ancient  capi'.al,  administering  the 
govcrinnent,  as  a  governor  lives  in  the  eapilal,  of  any  of  our  States. 

"  Suddenly,  aiul  in  the  oeginning  of  the  month  of  March,  all  this  wa.s 
changed.  '  Men,  armed  to  the  teeth,  were  galloping  about  the  country.' 
Groups  of  armed  men  were  constantly  secii.  the  whole  population  was 
in  connnolion,  and  everything  verged  towards  violence  und  bloodshed. 
For  what  cause?  The  ai)proach  of  the  Mormons,  the  proclamations 
incoiupatible  witli  the  capitulation  of  Coucnga,  the  prospect  that  1  was 
to  be  deposed  by  violence,  the  anticipated  non-piiymcnt  of  govt.'rnment 
liabiUtics,  and  the  general  insecurity  which  such  events  insi)ired.  Such 
was  the  cause.  1  deternnned  to  go  to  Monterey  to  lay  the  state  of  things 
before  General  Kearney,  and  gave  all  the  orders  necessary  to  preserve 
tranquillity  while  I  was  gone.  1  then  made  that  extraordinary  ride  of 
which  testimony  has  been  given.  General  Kearney  is  the  only  witness 
before  the  court  of  what  took  olace  at  Monterev.  Ife  seems  to  know 
but  of  two  events  in  my  interview  with  him  :  that  I  insulted  him,  and 
oH'ered  to  resign  my  coniniission.  It  can  hardly  be  supposed  that  I  rode 
40U  miles  to  Monterey,  in  less  than  four  days,  and  back  in  the  same  time 
for  such  purposes;  yet  these  are  the  only  things  done  in  that  visit,  as 
c-^tublished  by.  tlie  testimony  before  the  court.  To  the  question,  wliether 
I  did  not  mention  the  eiovernmcnt  liabilities,  the  answer  was  that  ho  did 
not  recollect  it,  but  would  have  refused  if  the  application  had  been  made. 


B 

8 


^''    !; 


an 


.     arRVICE3   OF   JOUN   C.    FREMONT. 
^oo  LIFK   AND    SLRVICEd   ur 

nf  a  witness,  and  admonished  of  tho 
Th.t  I  waB  interrogated  in  presence  of  a  w.tn  ^^  ^^^^  ^^  ^^^^^^  ^  „,, 

i,n  .ortance  of  any  answers,  h  proved   by  h  ^^^        ^^^^  ^.  ,^.  „^,,„. 

a  r  a    .•  resolved,  as  has  since  ^PP-J  ^'^^^  "  ,,,1  soen.ed  to  be  iuM-nd- 
o  tta   son>ethin,  of  n.oro  importan       ^^^^  ^,  eonunumcat.ou 

"  A  little  tin.c  was  allowed  -  -/:^^;;,,,,er  5th.  Supposing  that 
:as  nuule  to  n.e  of  t^> V'"'"  HLence  1  submitted,  in  order  to  pn;- 
rias  to  be  deposed  by  ^^^^^^^^  results  to  the  public  service 
vent  that  conseciuence,  and  th.  mj"  ^^  l,,,  ^..eles. 

Ihat  would  follow  sueh  -ont^  ;  ^^  ^^.^^^^^  ^^-^«^"' Ta 

u  These  are  the  meagre  ^'^^^^^  '     ^i,..,,,ions  of  this  speciheation 
,Uch  1  rely  for  n>y  defence  to  ^^^^^^^^^  ,,,,,,eed  in  tUe  ^P-b  - 
uBut  1  think  proper  to  add,  t^''^^.  ^'  \"        ^,  i,,,  as  the  state  of    ho 
,on    though  they  were  ^^^  J:7|;^t::^;;tion-that  of  re^^ustc^^ 
rountrv  would  allow,  were,  with  a  s  n  ^^  November  direct 

rtttahon-iUogal.     The  ^^^^^^  ,,  General  Kearney  ^r 
that  the  naval  convna...kr  .^^    ^  idministration,  and    turn  oer 
Colonel  Mason,  the  control  of  the  en  _^^^^^   ^^   ^^^^    ""^""l^'e. 

all  papers  connected  -^^-t  .^^'^^^  ,,,ieation  to  me,  and  my  conse 
themselves,  t^^^vefore,  made  tlur  con^  governorship,  "^^^^^^^-yi^^^f  ' 
auent  regular  and  lawful  relief  fiom  the  .,,,,„,i,tent  with  that, 

i:Zl  o?  ^--^^^-r^^;::L  X^    ::  ariMveswere  contrary  to 
.ere  unlawful,  wMle  the  one  co^^^^^^    "  .  ^  ^  „^,,,,  ,,.  of 

the  express  letter  ol  tli^  ■  ^_^,,;„y_  „nd  6,  «><"- 

..  ,Sp«i/ca<io»  6  ""  ■;;    *'^  j':,r  u,e  same  act,  and  recc.vo  ftc  same 

'"  *Ki/.V»(i"«  0,  of  ma.i.^^  .s  ""'■f^l  „,ri,,  government  paper 
U.e,o/at  San  Pe.lro,  on  tbe  «''  «'  «"^^^'   „,„„  ,„  it  is,  that  the  order 
■„,  discharge  of  pnbiie  dues,  ^-^"^^M  „,aer  previously  gtveu  •!  c 
in  ,vriting,  of  that  day  »as  to  cover  ,i,,t  ne.ihe.  Con 

offlcer  wishing  tho  .rittcn  "j*^  '^'j'^'  i„  „e  any  notice  of  the  Pre«- 
,„„dore  Shubrick  nor  any  othc,  pe.son  g  ^  ^^^^  ^^^  „„„„„, 

";„tV,n.truc,ions  °'\ '^o;™*!:' "',  'wed  to  »hat  I  believed  to  be  a 

'^:fe...>0,of.h=cha.e.m.i^an^e,.^-^^ 

::r.u:^rtrs:i=:;rdinapp— oftheo^ 

January  16,  IS-il. 


THE   DEFENCE. 


2R9 


icd  of  tho 
that  timo 

,osing  t\»ftt 
ier  to  pv«- 
oUc  service 


,ert,  and  on 
aticatioa. 
i\ic  specilica- 
statc  of  tUo 

rc-nnistcring 
ember  direct 

Kearney,  or 
,1  '  turn  over ' 
e   inslructions 
,ud  my  consc- 
•essary,  and  all 
,tent  with  that, 
,rc  contrary  to 

under  that  of 
.ceivc  the  same 

Tdcring  the  col- 
vovnmont  papcT 
,  that  the  order, 
'ously  given,  the 
liat  neivher  Coin- 
ticc  of  the  Pre.i- 
d  not  then,  nor 
believed  to  be  a 
governorship  ot 

f  disobedience  of 
^(1  commandcr-m- 
order  of  January 
at  1  ^-as  governor 
of  the  orders  ot 


iV 


**  Specijicntlon  11,  of  mutiny,  and  Y,  of  disobcdionco  of  orders,  are 
based  on  the  same  act :  that  of  not  obcyinf»  the  order  to  repair  to  Mon- 
terey, given  to  me  on  tlio  litUh  and  28th  days  of  March.  This  failure  to 
obey  that  order  is  sufficiently  accounted  for  in  tlic  testimony,  wliich 
shows  the  danger  of  travelling  at  that  timo  ;  and  ti)cre  was  nothing  on 
its  face,  or  in  the  testimony  in  relation  to  it,  which  showed  it  to  be 
urgent,  or  that  the  public  service  retjuired  risks  of  person  or  life  in 
attempting  to  comply  with  it.  The  words,  '  I  desire  to  see  you  in  this 
place,'  &c.,  &c.,  as  used  in  the  order,  seems  not  to  come  within  tin- 
meaning  of  an  order  to  be  obeyed  at  all  hazards  ;  and  the  first  claust-  of 
the  order,  written  on  the  28ti)  day  of  March,  directing  me  to  consider  all 
instructions  coming  from  him  (Colonel  Mason)  as  if  they  had  come  from 
General  Kearney  himself,  seemed  to  encourage  the  same  idea  of  the  want 
of  urgency  in  the  desire  to  see  me  at  Monterey. 

"  The  following  ia  the  clause  of  that  order  : 


"  '  IIrAD-QUARTERS,  IOtII   MiLITART  DEPAnTMENT, 

"  '  MoNTERUY,  California,  March  2S,  1847. 


I 


" '  Sir  :  This  will  be  handed  to  you  by  Colonel  Mason,  1st  dragoons, 
who  goes  to  the  southern  district,  clothed  by  me  with  full  authority  to 
give  such  orders  and  instructions  upon  all  matters,  both  civil  and 
military,  in  that  section  of  country,  as  he  may  deem  proper  and  neces- 
sary. Any  instructions  he  may  give  to  you  will  be  considered  as  coming 
from  myself.' 

"  The  execution  of  his  own  order,  and  of  consequent  additional  orders 
given  to  me  by  Colonel  Mason,  occupied  so  much  time  that  it  became 
impossible  to  reach  Monterey  within  the  period  fixed  by  him,  and 
delayed  my  departure  until  it  was  further  interfered  with  by  the  condition 
of  the  country. 

"  As  a  further  answer  to  all  the  orders  given  to  me  on  and  after  the 
1st  of  March,  1847,  I  am  advised  by  counsel  to  say  that  they  are  in 
violation  of  the  orders  of  General  Scott,  of  November  3d,  1846,  to  Gen. 
Kearney,  viz.  : 

"  '  It  is  known  that  Lieutenant-Colonel  Fremont,  of  the  United  States 
rifle  regiment,  was,  in  July  last,  with  a  party  of  men,  in  the  service  of 
the  United  States  topographical  engineers,  in  the  neighborhood  of  San 
Francisco,  or  Monterey  bay,  engaged  in  joint  operations  against  Mexico 
with  the  United  States  squadron  on  that  coast.  Should  you  find  him 
there,  it  is  desired  that  you  do  not  detain  him  aga-inst  his  wishes  a  moment 
longer  than  the  necessities  of  the  service  may  require.' 


ifi 


h! 


I    :;ir 


290 


LIFE    AND   SERVICES   OF  JOHN   (J.    FREMONT. 


"  This  order  was  oarriod  ont  by  Colonol  Miisop,  nn<l  came  to  tlio  lifinds 
of  ficiicnil  Kcai'iH'y  licloro  any  orders  issued  l>y  niiii  witli  respect  to  me 
on  till!  1st  Miinli,  on  wiiieli  day  lie  addressed  an  olliciid  letter  tt)  irie, 
reiitiii<^  that  he  had  tlie  directions  of  tlie  ^cnerai-in-ciiief  n(»l  to  detain 
nie  ^i{,'ain3t  my  wishes  a  moment  lon;,'<  r  than  the  necessiii(  s  of  the 
Borvioc  re(|uired,  and  leavinj^  mo  at  HiUrttj^  to  leave  tho  countiy,  after 
I  had  comi)lie(l  with  tho  instructions  in  the  letter  and  with  the  oriit-rs 
reirircd  to.  I  rely  upon  tlie  conci'idini;  i)arapra|>h  of  tliis  ollieial  letter 
to  prove  that  (lenc  ral  Ivearney,  at  that  time,  could  not  have  considered 
criminal,  and  wortiiy  of  the  prosecution  now  carried  on,  any  act  of  mine 
previous  to  tho  writiii}^  of  tlnit  letter. 

"Tho  following  is  the  letter: 


"  '   III  AP-wrAllTEKS,   IdTM   Mll.rrAftV   DKPAHr.MKNT, 

"  '  MoMKKKV,  l^  C.  March  1,  1S47 


'1' 


l.'i: 


i;ii: 


"'Sin:  By  department  orders,  No.  2,  of  this  date,  wliicli  will  ho 
handed  to  you  by  Captain  Turner,  1st  dra,i,'ooiis,  A.  A.  A.  (}.,  for  my 
command,  you  will  see  that  certain  duties  are  there  required  of  you  as 
commander  ol' the  l)attalion  of  California  volunteers. 

"'In  addition  to  the  duties  alnive  referred  to,  I  have  now  to  direct 
th?,t  you  will  bring  with  you,  and  with  as  little  delay  as  possible,  all  the 
archives  and  public  dociniients,  and  papers,  which  may  be  subject  to 
your  control,  and  which  appertain  to  the  government  of  California,  that 
I  may  receive  thom  from  your  hands  at  this  place,  the  caj)ital  of  the  ter- 
ritory. I  have  directions  from  the  gcneral-in-chief  not  to  detain  you  in 
this  country  against  your  wishes  a  moment  longer  than  the  necessities  of 
the  service  may  re(|uire,  and  you  will  be  at  liberty  to  leave  here  after 
you  have  complied  with  these  instructions,  and  those  in  the  "orders" 
referred  to. 

"  '  Very  respectfully,  your  obedient  s,  "vant, 

"  '  S.  W.  Kkarney 
"  '  Brigadier  General  and  Gove-nor  of  California. 

*•  •  To  Lieut.  Col.  J.  C.  Fremont, 

"  '  Regiment  of  Mounted  Rifcmen,  com- 
manding Battalion  of  California 
Vols.,  Ciudad  de  los  Angeles.'' 

"  Having  now  answered  all  the  specifications  under  the  charges  of 
mutiny  and  disobedience  of  orders,  I  have  to  say  that  five  of  the  same 
act^  on  which  these  specifications  are  founded,  are  also  laid  under  the 


(  hftnda 

,  to  mo 

to  nie, 

(Icliiiu 
of  tlio 
y,  i-.fter 
I  ordiTS 
ill  lottor 
iisUlori'il 
of  iniiio 


I'.MKNT,  I 

iT.  f 

I  will  bo 
,  lor  my 
of  you  a3 

to  direct 
U«,  all  the 

JUbj«H't    to 

irnia,  tlmt 
»!'  the  ter- 
iiiii  you  in 
ossitios  of 
ere  after 
I"  orders" 


li/ornta. 


Iharges  of 
the  same 
under  the 


TiiK  nr.ncNCTi!. 


201 


charpp  of  conduct  prejudicial  to  pood  order  and  discipline.  I  nm  ad- 
vised hy  coiiiisd  that  olTcuces  rmimcnifc(l  in  tlie  rules  and  articles  of 
war  cannot  ho  |)rosecuted  anionp  the  non-enumerated  on'ences  of  tho 
9'.tth  article  of  war  (Ilouph,  ptipe  ♦WKi),  hut  I  take  no  exception  to  any 
illc;;ality  or  any  iiTepiilarily,  if  siu-h  there  he  in  the  charges,  and  yiake 
the  sauie  answers  to  these  five  specifications,  luider  the  i-harpe  under 
which  they  are  last  found,  as  was  made  uncU-r  the  two  preoediiiR 
charpes. 

*'  I  have  deemed  it  my  duty  to  reply  to  each  specification,  heeausc  it 
ifl  the  duty  of  the  court  to  find  upon  each,  and  liecau.Jc  it  is  ri;.'lit  to  sliow 
niV  conduct  consistent  and  proper  witii  all  jjoints.  I  oheyed  orders, 
after  the  1st  of  March,  .o  avoid  bloodshed  and  violence.  Not  relieved, 
as  povernor,  and  dceminp  them  illepal,  I  obeyed.  Now,  beinp  put  upon 
my  trial,  according  to  law,  I  claim  tin-  benefit  of  law,  and  to  be  consider- 
ed governor  initil  I  was  rilicvcd.  In  thenis(dves,  most  of  the  specifica- 
tions, after  the  first  leading  ones,  are  either  cumulative  or  insiginficant  in 
the  presence  of  tlie  grave  ones  which  precede  them,  and  which  would 
hardly,  of  themselves,  have  been  considered  w  ortliy  of  such  a  prosecu- 
tion, and  while  replying  separately  to  each  of  these  minor  and  ciniiula- 
tive  accusations,  I  refer  to  the  main  I.'ading  argument  at  the  oiK-iiing  of 
the  charges  of  mutiny,  in  usurping  the  oflice  of  governor,  and  disobe- 
dience to  the  order  of  January  16,  1847,  as  presenting  the  general  and 
Bustained  defence  which  the  gravity  of  the  charges  recpiircd. 

"  I  now  come  to  a  difl'erent  part  of  my  defence — but  of  which  I  fairly 
gave  notice  to  the  court,  and  through  it  to  the  prosectition,  at  an  early 
ptage  of  this  trial — that  of  impeaching  the  mn/ives  and  the  credit  of  the 
prosecuting  witness.  To  do  this  is  both  legal  and  fair,  where  there  is 
just  ground  for  it  ;  and  that  is  abundantly  the  ease  in  this  instance.  A 
prosecutor  sho\dd  have  none  but  public  motives;  hhs  testimony  should 
De  Pcrupulously  fair  towardB  the  accused.  If  he  contradicts  Mther  wit- 
nesses, which  (General  Kearncv  has  so  much  done,  it  becomes  necessary 
to  weigh  their  res])octivc  credit  ;  and  in  doing  this  I  have  a  right,  and 
moreover,  it  is  my  duty  to  myself  and  to  others,  to  produce  instances  of 
trroneous  testimony  he  may  have  exhibited,  either  from  defect  of 
memory,  or  from  evil  intent ;  and  for  that  purpose  to  contrast  his  own 
testimony  with  itself  where  it  varies,  or  with  that  of  other  witnesses 
where  thry  contradict  him.  To  this  part  of  my  defence  I  now  proceed, 
and  speak  first  of  the  acts  w  hicli  go  to  the  motives  of  the  prosecutor  : 

"  1.  Giving  me  no  notice  of  hi>  intended  arrest.  He  admits  that  this 
arrest  was  resolvfid  upon  in  January,  1847,  and  that  I  had  no  notice  of  it 
until  I  was  actually  arre.sted  on  the  frontiers  in  the  latter  part  of  August 


|l  I 


I 


I 


r 


i\t 


202 


LIFK    AND   SF.IlVrCKS   OF   JOHN    C.    FRFMONT. 


Ihii 


>■        t 


,!  i 


I   I, 


M  : 


foIlo\vinf(.  Others  worn  informod  of  it,  btit  not  tny,"'<'lt',  the  ono  ahovo 
all  others  the  most  interested  to  l»iiOW.  I  wiih  liroiijjht  aeross  the  eonti- 
nrtu  in  II  Ntiite  of  virluiil  imprisonment,  to  be  trieil  for  ii  multitiide  of 
ntVenees,  eharprd  to  liiive  been  eomndlted  on  the  Miiores  of  the  riuilic, 
without  the  warniiif,'  whieli  would  enable  me  to  briiif?  evidence  t(»  nu-et 
n  sinj^le  ehiir;;e  ;  while  my  aeeuser  and  general,  brou<,'ht  with  him  all  that 
he  deemed  necessary  cither  of  written  evidenee,  or  of  witnesses  to  insure 
my  uonvietiou.  It  is  iinpossibh',  in  my  opiidon,  to  reeonoile  this  con- 
duet  with  any  fair  and  honorable  motive.  It  laid  me  under  the  necessity 
of  tdioosinf;  between  n  trial,  broiif;ht  on  by  siu-pris*',  and  almost  without 
the  means  of  dcfeiu-e,  or  of  Hun't-ring  ruinous  charges,  er.l'oived  by  lu'ws- 
])aper  publiealions,  to  hati;;  over  my  head.  T.he  latter,  aecordinj^  to 
Major  Cooke's  testimony,  seems  to  have  b«'en  (leneral  Kearney's  calcula- 
tion;  and  as  I  deemed  the  cflTect  of  such  impending  charges  and  pub- 
lications would  be  worse  than  any  conviction,  I  was  forced  into  a  trial, 
unprepared  for  it,  to  take  the  chance  of  any  testimony  that  might  bo 
found. 

"2.  Denying  me  the  privilege  of  going  to  Mexico  to  join  my  regiment 
when  I  had  made  preparation  of  sixty  men  and  a  hundred  and  twenty 
liorses  to  do  so,  and  had  not  the  least  doul)t  of  reaching  General  Taylor's 
camp,  and  thence  going  to  the  regiment,  expected  (according  to  infor- 
mation received  from  Washington),  to  be  on  the  road  from  Vera  Cruz  to 
Mexico.  I  expected  to  reach  it  in  July,  which  would  have  been  in  time 
for  the  great  oi)erations  impending,  and  since  so  gradually  executed. 
The  refusal  to  let  me  go  did  me  many  injuries  which  a  soldier  can  feel ; 
and,  besides,  left  mc  involved  in  debts  for  my  preparations,  and  was, 
further,  iu  violation  of  (leneral  Scott's  directions,  not  to  detain  me  in  tho 
country,  against  my  wishes,  a  moment  longer  than  the  necessities  of  tho 
service  required  ;  and,  also,  in  violation  of  his  own  oflficial  letter  to  mo 
of  March  1,  lb47,  leaving  me  at  liberty  to  quit  the  country  when  I 
pleased,  after  complying  with  a  few  small  orders,  not  amounting  to  ^^nc' 
cessidcn"  of  the  service,  but  which  were  com[)lied  with. 

"Ji.  Taking  away  from  me  the  command  of  my  topographical  party; 
taking  away  the  scientific  instnmients  which  I  had  so  long  used;  leaving 
behind  my  geological  and  botanical  specimens  of  near  two  years'  collec- 
tion ;  leaving  behind  the  artist  of  the  expedition  (Mr,  Kern),  with  his 
sketches  and  drawings;  leaving  behind  my  assistant  (Mr.  King),  he  and 
Mr.  Kern  both  standing  in  a  relation  to  be  material  witnesses  to  me  in 
any  inquiry  into  my  conduct ;  denying  me  the  privilege  of  returning  to 
the  United  States  by  any  new  route,  which  would  enable  me  to  correct 
previous  explorations,  or  add  to  geograpliical  and  scientific  knowledge  ; 


TIIK  DEFENCE. 


203 


mahinp  mo  follow  on  his  trail  in  the  rear  of  liin  Mormon  escort.  All  tliii 
after  ho  liiul,  in  conformity  to  fioni'nil  Sfott'H  inntnu'tions,  provioiisly 
loft  mo  at  */t7»<r///'  to  (init  Ciilifoniiii  when  I  pleuBod,  after  cxocutiiig 
the  fi!W  Niiiull  orilcrs  ahovt!  ri-fiMTcd  to. 

"  4.  Iiitcrfrriiig  witli  ('oinniodoic  Hiddic  to  dctiiiii  Miijor  (lillospio  in 
raliforiiia,  an  oIliL't-r  known  to  luivo  Ix-on  inlitniilcdy  iissociutcd  with  mo 
iu  Culifonda,  and  who,  arriving  a  forfnij^ht  uftor  this  trial  had  ^coin- 
nu'iicc'd,  has  HJiown  himself  to  be  a  mute  rial  witness  for  mo.  The  fact 
of  interference  is  admitted  ;  the  oircnmstanees  attending  it  are  moKt 
suspicions;  tiio  reasons  given  for  it  most  iiiadetpiate,  and,  besides,  contra- 
dicted by  the  fact  that  Major  Giliespio  was  soon  after  allowed  '*  to  go 
about  the  country,^  and  did  not  do  the  mischief  which  had  been  aj)j)re- 
hon-iled  from  his  being  at  large.  The  detention  of  Miijor  (Jiliespie  wa9 
the  detention  of  Commodore  Stockton  and  his  party  ;  so  that  this 
Interference  delayed  the  arrival  not  only  of  Major  (Jiliespie,  but  of 
Commodore  Stockton,  Captain  Ilensley,  and  other  material  witnossci 
who  c4imo  with  him. 

"5.  Not  conununioating  to  me  his  knowledge  of  the  instrnctiona  of 
the  5th  of  November  and  12th  of  July,  ISIO,  when  a  knowledge  of 
those  instruction's  was  so  necessary  for  the  safe  guidance  of  my  conduct. 
The  excuse,  in  relation  to  that  of  the  5th  of  Novend)er,  that  he  was  not 
in  the  habit  of  commiuiicating  instructions  to  juniors,  is  invalidated 
by  the  fact  of  the  previous  communication  of  those  of  June,  18-tO,  when 
I  was  equally  junior  militarily,  and  before  I  had  become  governor  and 
commander-in-chief. 

•'6.  Making  injurious  representations  to  the  War  Department  against 
mo  and  against  the  battalion  under  my  command,  without  giving 
me  any  knowledge  of  such  representations,  and  which  1  have  only 
found  out  in  the  progress  of  this  trial,  in  searching  for  testimony  in 
the  department. 

"  7.  My  reception  at  Monterey  on  March  26th,  for  the  nature  of  which 
I  710W  refer  entirely  to  General  Kearney's  testimony.  I  made  a  most 
extraordinary  ride  to  give  information  to  prevent  an  insurrection.  I 
asked  an  interview  on  business,  and  had  it  granted,  and  found  Colonel 
Mason  with  him.  The  only  thing,  it  would  seem,  that  I  came  for  in  that 
interview,  was  to  insult  General  Kearney  and  to  offer  my  resignation;  and 
he  does  not  even  know  what  I  went  for.  Certaiidy  the  public  service,  to 
eay  nothing  of  myself  as  an  officer,  required  a  different  kind  of  recep- 
tion from  the  one  I  received. 

"  8.  The  order  given  to  Colonel  Mason  on  the  28th  of  March  (after 
what  had  happened  in  his  presence  on  the  26th\  to  proceed  to  Los 


1 1 


I !  I 


U 


29i 


MKK    AND    t^KUVICKR    OK   JOHN    V.    KKKMONT. 


Anj^doH,  wlioro  I  was,  wi(li  (lii>  i)i>w«<r  ami  aiilliorily  over  mo,  of  which 
1  \MH  ()irn-i;illy  achlsrd  Uy  I.'II.t  of  thai  <hilt«.  I  now  only  nicnlioii 
th(«  or.l(>r,  in  coniKM-lioii  wilh  my  ircfption  at  Moiilorcy,  aw  rvyvo' 
Honlcil  l)y  (!t<n«'ral  K.-arncy,  and  aihl  nothinj;  to  it.  1  do  not  }j;o  hcyoiid 
thi'  I'vidcnco. 

"it.  Tin- fa»'t,  of  not  rc/iiviin;  uw  in  momic  Icj^al  I'orni  iVoni  the  dnticM  nf 
govfi-iior  of  CaHCornia,  allfr  the  rrcsidcnt'N  inslrnctionn  of  the  f>lli  of 
Novi'imImm-  arrived,  and  ronccaliii^  IVoni  nic  ail  knowlcdf^T  of  those 
in^HMulioiis,  wliilo  i)ntting  the  inleno^alories,  the  answcrrt  to  wITuh  ho 
hiis  sworn  ho  waiiieil  nn<  nii^'lit  he  of  so  ninch  iniporlanec. 

"  1(1.  Tlu<  mareh  of  the  Mormons  niion  Los  An;:;('lcs,  when  T  was 
ox|U'i'UMl  to  ho  thcro,  and  wonid  havo  Ikmmi,  cxccpl  for  tho  lO'^cnt  hiisincss 
which  oarritMl  mo  to  Montoroy — iho  ' rrushiii(/ '  that,  niifxhl  havo  ti^kcn 
|)lai'0,  if  a  ';•(■)'<)/<'  of  tho  people  had  not  been  api>rehended — and 
nil  the  oiivunislanoes  of  tliat  movonieiit  I  leavo  whero  the  evideneo 
plaeiMl  it. 

"  11.  The  eondnet  ol'  (\>h>nel  Mason  to  mo  at  T,os  Anj^eles  (so  far  as 
<he  ovidiwiee  diselost>s  it),  is  by  nu'  referred  to  the  iidl  anthoriiy  over  mo 
with  whieh  he  was  elotlied  by  iieneral  Kearney,  and  of  whieh  1  was  noti- 
liisl  in  lliis  elanso  of  IJoncriil  Kearnev's  olfuial  letter  to  me: 


ittti.. 


:    .  \ 


|I.!<I 


"'Sir:  Tliis  will  be  handed  to  yon  by  Colonel  Mason,  1st  draf,'oons, 
who  g(n>s  to  the  st)ulli<Mn  distriel,  elolhed  l)y  nu>  with  full  authority  to 
give  stuh  t)rdi>rs  and  instruoiions  in  that  section  of  the  country  as  ho 
nniy  deem  proju-r  ami  necessary.  Any  instructions  ho  may  give  to  you 
will  bo  considered  as  coining  from  myself.' 

"1'2.  The  exhibition  of  myself  and  the  cilizons  of  my  topographical 
party  at  Monterey,  on  the  ;>iith  May — the  circumstances  of  the  march 
lVi>in  that  plai'c  to  Fort  liCavcinvorth,  and  the  maniu'r  of  the  arrest  there 
— 1  leave  in  liUe  manner  where  the  evidence  placed  it;  giving  it  as  my 
ojunioii,  in  the  twelve  instances  enumciated,  besides  in  many  others  to 
be  seen  in  the  testimony,  that  no  i)rcsumption  of  acting  from  a  sense  of 
)Mihlic  d\ily  can  outweigli  the  facts  and  ap]>earauces  to  the  contrary,  and 
that  all  these  twelve  instances,  and  others  to  be  seen  in  the  testi- 
mony, go  to  impeach  his  motives  in  this  prosecution. 


'*  1  now  jiroceed  to  the  last  point  of  my  defence — the  impeachment 
of  the  credit  of  (icneral  Kearney  as  a  witness  before  thii  court,  'ilie 
law  gives  me  the  right  to  do  t^o.  Morality  condeinua  the  exercise  of  that 
right,  unless  sternly  jnstifiod  by  credible  evidence.     I  feel  so  justified. 


1 


Tllli:   bKKUNCK. 


2'J5 


I  iiIho  fiM'l  Unit.  iWiH  ciiMc,  uhovc  nil  olIirrN,  iidinilH  of  thv  rxcrclHR  of  nil 
Iht!  i-if<lit.s  aguiiiHt  tliiH  witncHS  wliicli  the  law  uimI  tlu!  (!viil<>n(;<>  allow  to 
ill*'  ncniMcd. 

"  It  is  a  «'HS('  ill  wliicli  (lie  witiK  hh  «'t)iii|)risrH,  in  IiIm  own  iktsoii,  tlio 
<'li»ni('l«'r  oC  acciiHcr,  |tro-<rcnlor,  icjiding  witiii'.^;^,  <»)mrii(milin^  j^iiuiiil, 
ai'iTNtiii^  olIi«'cr — and  luin^iii;;  nic,  \ty  viiliii'  ol  liin  Nii|Hii()i-  r;iiii<, 
Mirrr  tlioiisiind  iiiilt's  across  llir  rontintiit,  to  hi-  tricil,  witlioiit  uarnin;;, 
upon  iiiiKliowii  cliar^rs,  (>r  to  ))<■  rninnl  by  infanions  aoiisalions  liuii^iii^ 
over  me  and  iiif^rd  in  the  iicwHiiapcfH.  Tliin  in  the  case,  and  I  il.iiiii  in 
it  llic  I'i^lit  of  iiiiprachin^  tlic  crrdil  of  tin;  witiicHS,  both  ii|)on  liis  own 
Hwcarin^  and  thai,  of  oiIicim. 

■'  Kid'cninf^  lln-n  to  tlic  points  on  wliicli  Ihf  cnMlit  of  tin!  wIiik-hs  )■< 
aln'ady  iinpoacht'd  in  ollirr  part.s  of  tlic  di'lcnco,  I  will  first  call  atten- 
tion, (iiidor  thiH  licad,  to  what  rolatcH  to  the  fxJHMlilion  of  Drccnilx-r  and 
.laiiuary,  ISIC)  and  1HI7,  frtiin  San  Dicj^o  to  Los  Anj^t-lcM,  and  csiMMtiaily 
with  rcfcrciH'c  to  tlic  Icsliinony  conccriiin;^  t/ir  ionnmtnil  of  f/if  f.ronji.^ 
ill  that  cxpcrlitioii.  This  is  a  iiiallcr  on  which  (icncnil  Kearney  lays  f^reat 
HtrcMM  tliroii<;hoiit,  liotloinin;;,  at  one  time,  his  claim  to  chief  aiilhoriiv 
ill  the  province,  mainly  on  the  results  of  that  expedition,  and  his  allc;;ed 
coiiiinaiid  of  it.  1  shall,  coiiseipicntly,  examine  and  test  what  he  says  in 
relation  to  it,  with  some  minnlciicss. 

"  And  first  as  to  tln^  p<»int,  (it  w/iosi:  inslanri'.  was  Ihn  fxpnlitioii.  rained 
aud  innrchid ?  There  is  a^cat  discrepancy  here.  In  (i<'iicriil  Kearney'.H 
letter  of  17tli   .laiinary,  to  the  de|)artinent  he  says  : 

"  '  I  have  to  state  that  the  march  of  the  troojm  from  Sun  Ituijo  to  thin 
place  wax  reluftnntli/  consented  to  hi/  doniniodore  Stockton,  on.  inif  urf/ent 
adricc  that  he  should  not  leave  liieulenanl-t'olonei  Fremont  uii<ii[)|)orled 
to  ti^ht  a  battle  on  which  the  fate  of  (California  ini^i^lit,  for  a  lon^r  tim<^, 
depend  ;  the  correspondence  to  prone  which  in  now  with  mif  p<ip:rs  at  San 
JJierfo,''  &c.,  4c. 

"  In  his  cross-exaniiiiatloii,  on  the  fourth  day  of  tlu*  trial,  he  says: 

"  '  Ih  the  latter  end  of  Dei  ember,  an  cxpecliiion  was  orj^aiii/,(;d  at  Sun 

Piej^o  to  march  to  lios   Anj^eU^s   to   assist   liienteiiaiit-t^oloncl    Fretnotit ; 

and  it  uuis  oniiDiir.ed  in  ctnmeifucncc,  av  /  lu'liccr^  of  this  jtufier,  irfiir/i    Is  a 

cojtji  (fa  letter  from  me  to   ('oi/nnmlore  StockLtn,''  (rci'erriiij^  to  his  httrr 

of  DtH'cmlier  '2'2,  hereafter  ipiottMl.) 

"  Let  us  contrast  this  lirst  positive  assertion,  and  sfcoiid  more  reserved 

declaration  of  belief,  with   facts,  with    other  testiuiony,  aud  tiually  with 

the  '  proof  which  General  Kearney  tenders. 

"  Commodore  Stockton  testiQe* : 


n 

:  ( 
11 


If' I 


Jl'  \v 


296 


LIFE    AND    SERVICES   OF   JOHN   0.    FREMONT. 


" '  After  General  Kearney  arrived  (on  the  12th  December),  and  in  my 
quarters,  and  in  presence  of  two  of  my  military  family,  I  offered  to  make 
him  commaiidor-in-cliief  over  all  of  us,  and  I  offered  to  go  as  his  aid-de- 
camp, lie  said  no ;  that  the  foroe  was  mine ;  and  he  would  go  as  my 
aid-do-camj),  oraoeompany  me.' 

"  Xow.  '  to  go''  where  V  to  ' accotnpnin/  '  where  ? 

"  This,  if  not  fiiilHoiently  explicit,  is  made  entirely  so  by  the  certificate 
of  Messrs.  Spieden  and  Moseley,  of  tlie  navy,  ottered  bv  Commodore 
Stockton,  in  corroboration,  under  the  sanction  of  his  oath,  and,  of  course, 
forming  a  proper  interpretation  of  his  words.  This  certificate  is  as  fol- 
lows : 


:'k  :; 


HI 


m 


!H!  •. 


ij  I, 


1 ;!  tt 


If  i- 


I      .!■ 


"  '  We,  the  undersigned,  were  present  at  a  conversation  held  between 
Commodore  Stockton  and  (leneral  Kearney,  at  San  Diego,  shortly  after 
the  arrival  of  the  general,  in  whicli  conversation  the  commodore  ofl'ered 
to  give  to  General  Kearney  the  '  coinmand  in-cl\ief  '  of  the  forces  he  uhii» 
preparing  to  inarch  with  to  the  (JinJad  de  los  Angeles,  and  to  act  as  his 
aid-dc-canip.  TJiis  offer  tJie  general  declined,  but  said  he  toould  be  most 
happg  to  go  with  the  commodore  as  his  aid-de-canip,  and  assist  him  with 
his  head  and  hand. 

"  '  WiLUAM  Spikden,  v.  S.  N. 
"  '  SaMUKL  MOSEI-EY,   U.  S.  N. 

"  'San  Diego,  February  5,  1847.' 

"Again  Commodore  Stockton  testifies  that,  at  a  subsequent  interview, 
a  few  days  afterwards  he  made  to  General  Kearney  '  the  same  of!er,  in 
pretty  much  the  same  language,  and  received  pretty  much  the  same 
answer.' 

"  It  is  certain,  then,  that  General  Kearney's  letter  of  the  22d  Decem- 
ber was  7iot  the  inducing  cause  of  the  expedition,  as  '  believed,^  in  Gene- 
ral Kearney's  testimony,  and  tluvt  'the  inarch  of  the  troops'  was  7iot  a 
matter  that  (.'ommodore  Stockton  '  reluctantly  assented  to,'  as  asserted  in 
General  Kearney's  olficial  letter ;  and  it  is  also  certain  that  General 
Kearney  could  ivot  have  supi>osed  either  to  be  the  case,  for  he  had  been 
inlbrnied  ten  days  before  of  the  design  to  send  the  expedition  ;  that  it 
■was  '  preparing  to  march  ;'  and  he  had  been  twice  oflered,  and  had 
twice  declined  the  cojuniand  of  it. 

''Commodore  Stockton  further  testifies  : 

"  I  now  set  to  work  to  make  the  best  preparations  I  could  to  commence 
our  march  for  the  Ciudad  de  lo«  Angeles.  During  this  time  an  expedi- 
tion that  had  been  sent  to  the  south  for  horses  returned,   and  brought 


THE   DKFKNCE. 


297 


with  it  a  number  of  horses  and  cattle.  Captain  Turner  was  allowed  to 
take  his  pick  of  the  horses  for  the  dragoons.  After  he  had  done  so  ho 
wrote  to  niethis  note: 

'"San  Dikgo,  December  2:i,  1846. 

*' '  CoMMODOUK  :  In  compliance  with  your  verbal  instruction  to  examine 
and  report  upon  the  condition  of  the  public  horses  turned  over  to  me  for 
the  use  of  C  Company,  1st  dnif^oons,  I  have  the  honor  to  state  that,  in 
my  opinion,  not  oue  of  the  horses  referred  to  is  fit  for  dragoon  service, 
being  too  poor  and  weak  for  any  such  purpose  ;  also,  that  the  company 
of  dragoons,  under  my  command,  can  do  much  better  service  on  foot 
than  if  mounted  on  those  horses. 

"  '  I  am,  sir,  with  high  respect,  your  obedient  servant, 

'"11.  S.  TCKNKR, 

"  '  Captain  Ist  Dragoons  commanding  company  C. 

"  *  Commodore  R.  F.  Htockton, 

"  '  United  States  Navy,  Commanding,  <Scc.  dec.'' 

"The  exact  day  of  the  return  of  this  expedition  for  horses  and  cattle 
does  not'  appear.  But,  as  there  had  been  time  for  Captain  Turner  to  be 
allowed  to  '  take  his  pick '  from  the  horses,  examine  them,  and  make  a 
report  upon  them  by  the  23d  of  December,  it  is  nearly  certain  that  it 
must  have  returned  by  the  22d  ;  and  hence  it  would  seem  that  General 
Kearney's  letter,  sent  ^o  Commodore  Stockton  in  the  night  of  the  last 
mentioned  day,  in  which  he  'recommends'  the  expedition,  and  in  which 
he  claims  the  whole  merit  of  the  march,  and  to  have  induced  Commo- 
dore Stockton  reluctantly  to  consent  to  it,  was  not  written  till  he  had  not 
only  been  repeatedly  informed  that  the  expedition  was  in  preparation,  and 
he  had  been  twice  offered  the  command  of  it,  but  not  till  the  horses  and 
cattle  for  its  use  had  actually  arrived,  and  probably  a  part  of  them  turned 
over  to  his  own  company  of  dragoons.  This,  indeed,  is  rendered  nearly 
certain  by  the  fact  that  the  preparations  for  the  expedition  were  so  far 
advanced  that  Commodore  Stockton's  general  orders  for  the  march  were 
issued  on  the  day  next  following  General  Kearney's  letter,  which  he  pre- 
tends, under  oath  to  have  been  the  inducing  cause  of  the  expedition. 

"But  General  Kearney  is  entitled  to  the  benefit  of  the  ^ proof  which 
he  vouches  to  the  department  in  this  passage  of  his  letter : 

"  '  I  have  to  state  that  the  march  of  the  troops  from  San  Diego  to  this 
place  was  reluctantly  consented  to  by  ConiiDodore  Stockton,  on  my 
urgent  advice  that  he  should  not  leave  Colonel  Fremont  unsupported 


•i  .  «• 


!  I; 


■rmv<^ 


'I  Hlli|iHTIppiBB"»>»r turn 


w  1 

i  '  \ 

1        1 

Ij:  1 

1 ' ' 

,  1' 

m  1 

•nil' 

r 

(S 


I,, I 


S  1 


iiiH  i. 


;i'i  .1' 


iili     II 


jiil 

'it, 

m 
1 


ll'l    H 


I'l'.i;'  y 

:  lllj:  i 

'  ■  '.I'i'i 


II' 


i   f' 


'A. 


298 


LIFE   AND   SERVICES   OF  JOHN   C.    FItEMONT. 


<> 


to  fight  a  battle  on  which  the  fate  of  California  might  for  a  long  time 
depend  ;  the  corrvspondc7ice  to  prove  which  is  now  with  my  papers  at  San 
Diego,  and  a  copy  of  which  will  be  furnished  to  you  on  my  return  to 
that  place.' 

"  This  'correspondence,'  as  he  certifies  it  on  the  12th  day  of  the  trial, 
consists  of  three  letters  and  Commodore  Stockton's  general  orders  for 
the  march.     I  will  set  out  all  of  them  : 


"  '  San  DiKGO,  December  22, 1S46. 
*' '  Dear  Commodore  :  If  you  can  take  from  here  a  sufhcient  force  to 
oppose  the  Californians,  now  supposed  to  be  near  Pueblo,  and  waiting 
for  the  approach  of  Lieutenant-Colonel  Fremont,  I  advise  that  you 
do  so,  and  that  you  march  with  tliat  force  as  early  as  possible  in  the 
direction  of  the  Pueblo,  by  which  you  will  either  be  able  to  form  a 
junction  with  Lieutenant-Colonel  Fremont,  or  make  a  diversion  very 
much  in  his  favor. 

"  'I  do  not  think  that  Lieutenant-Colonel  Fremont  should  be  left  unsup- 
ported to  fight  a  battle  upon  which  the  fate  of  California  may,  for  a  long 
time,  depend,  if  there  are  troops  here  to  i  ct  in  concert  with  him.  Your 
force,  as  it  advances,  might  surprise  the  enemy  at  the  St.  Louis  Mission, 
and  make  prisoners  of  them. 

"  '  I  shall  be  happy,  in  such  an  expedition,  to  accompany  you,  and 
to  give  you  any  aid,  either  of  head  or  hand,  of  which  I  may  be  capa- 
ble. 

*' '  Yours  truly, 

"  '  S.  W.  Kearxev, 

" '  Brigadier  General. 
"  'To  Commodore  Stockton, 

"  '  Commanding  United  States  Forces^  San  Diego.'' 

"  '  Headquarters,  San  Diego,  December  28, 1846. 

"  'Dear  General  :  Your  note  of  yesterday  was  handed  to  me  last  night 
by  Captain  Turner,  of  the  dragoons. 

"  '  In  reply  to  that  note,  permit  me  to  refer  you  to  the  conversation  held 
with  ynu  yesterday  morning  at  your  (/uartera.  I  stated  to  you  distirtctly 
that  I  intended  to  march  upon  St.  Louis  Roy  as  soon  as  possible,  with  a 
part  of  the  force  under  my  command,  and  that  I  was  very  desirous  tc 
niarcli  on  to  the  Pueblo  to  co-operate  with  Licutenant'Colonrl  Fremont ; 
but  my  movements  after,  to  St.  Louis  Rey,  would  depend  entirely  upon 
the  information  that  T  might  receive  as  to  the  movements  of  Colonel 


THE  defencp:. 


209 


time 


and 


Fremor.t  and  the  enemy.  It  might  be  necessary  for  me  to  stop  the  pass 
of  San  Felipe,  or  marcli  back  to  San  Diego. 

"  '  Now,  my  dear  general,  if  the  object  of  your  note  is  to  advLse  me  to 
do  anything  whicli  would  euablo  a  large  force  of  the  enemy  to  get  into 
my  roar  and  cut  off  my  communication  with  San  Diogo,  and  hazard  the 
safety  of  the  garrison  and  the  ships  in  the  harbor,  you  will  excuse  me  for 
sayinjr  T  cannot  follow  any  such  advice. 

"  '  My  PUiiposE  still  is  to  march  for  St.  Louis  Rey  as  soon  as  I  can  get 

the  »RAGOoss  and  rijiemen  mounted,  which  I  hope  to  do  in  two  days. 

*' '  Faithfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

'"R.  F.  Stockton, 

"  '  Commander-in-chief  and  governor 

of  the  territory  of  California, 

•*'To  Brigac'or  General  S.  W.  Kearney, 

"  '  United  States  Army.'' 

"  '  San  Diego,  December  23, 1846. 

'•  Dear  Commodore  :  I  have  received  yours  of  this  date,  repeating,  &s 
you  say,  what  you  stated  to  me  yesterday  ;  and  in  reply  I  have  only  to 
remark  that,  if  I  had  so  understood  you,  I  certainly  would  not  have  writ- 
ten my  letter  to  you  of  last  evening. 

"  '  You  certainly  could  not  for  a  moment  suppose  that  I  would  advise  or 
suggest  to  you  any  movement  which  might  endanger  the  s  ifety  of  the 
garrison  and  the  ships  in  the  harbor. 

"  '  My  letter  of  yesterday's  date  stated  that   '  if  you  can   take  from 

here,'    &c.,    of    which    you    were   the   judge,    and   of    which   I   knew 

nothing.  "  '  Truly  yours, 

'"S.  W.  Kearney, 

"  '  Brigadier  General. 
"  '  Commodore  R.  F.  Stockton, 

"  '  Commanding  U,  S.  Navy,  d'c,  San  Diego.'' 


\^ 


\ 


\l  I 


fi 


"  '  General  Orders  : 

"  '  The  forces  composed  of  Captain  Tilghman's  company  of  artillery,  a 

detachment  of  the  Ist  regiment  of  dragoon.i,  companies  A  and  B  of  the 

California  battalion  of  mounted  riflemen,  and  a  detachment  of  sailors  and 

marines,  from  the  frigates  Congress  and  Savannah  an<l  the  ship  Ports- 

niouUi,  will  take  up  the  line  of  march  for  the  Cindad  de  los  Angeles  on 

Monday  morning,  tlie  '28th  instant,  at  1(>  o'clock,  A.  M. 

*' '  liv  order  of  the  commander-in-chief. 

'"J.  ZielaN, 

"  '  Brevet  Captain  and  AdJiUanL 
'"San  DUGO.  Decemler  28,  l&i6.> 


•t 

I'  '* 


1:1 1; 


i!i  ii  I 


3   1 


:;«i 


00 


MFK    AND    ski: VICES    OF   JOHN    C.    FUEMONT. 


**  The  character  of  this  correspondence  entirely  destroys  General 
Kearney's  asseverations ;  both  the  one  in  his  report  that  Commodore 
Stocltton  '  rehictiintly  consented'  to  the  march  of  the  troops,  and  the  one 
before  the  court  that  he  'believed'  that  the  expedition  was  organized  in 
consequence  of  liis  letter  of  advice. 

"Commodore  Stockton's  letter  is  explicit  both  of  his  present  and  pre- 
vious '  intentiouy  '  desire,^  and  ^ purpose,^  to  march  'as  soon  as  possible  ;' 
while  the  reference  to  the  dragoons,  which  were  General  Kearney's  espe- 
cial corps,  shows  that  the  subject  of  the  expedition  must  have  been  pre- 
viously entertained  between  the  two  correspondents.  Allow  General  Kear- 
ney, however,  the  benefit  of  any  misunderstanding,  touching  Commodore 
Stockton's  disposition  and  intentions,  that  he  may  have  been  under 
when  he  wrote  his  letter,  the  commodore's  reply  corrects  all  such  mis- 
takes, and  leaves  General  Kearney's  subsequent  assertions  on  this  head 
direct  contradictions  of  the  declaiations  of  Commodore  Stockton. 

"  The  next  question  in  connection  with  this  expedition  is  who  was  its 
commander?  General  Kearney  says /tc  was  ;  Commodore  Stockton,  sus- 
tained by  the  testimony  of  many  others  says  he  was.  As  it  could  not 
have  had  two  commanders,  at  the  same  time,  I  will  compare  the  testimony. 
General  Kearney's  claim  first  comes  to  attention  in  a  letter  to  the  depart- 
ment of  which  the  following  is  the  first  paragraph  : 


•' '  He^wqcarters,  Armt  op  the  West,  ) 

"  '  CllDAD  DK   LOS  ANOKLES,   c/OTl.   12,   1847.      ) 

'•  'Sir  :  I  have  the  honor  to  report  that,  at  the  request  of  Commodore 
R.  F.  Stockton,  United  States  navy  (who  in  Septeujber  last  assumed  tlie 
title  of  governor  of  California),  I  consented  to  takk  command  of  an  expe- 
dition to  this  place  (the  capital  of  the  country^,  and  that  on  the  29th 
December,  /  left  San  Biego  with  about  500  men,  consisting  of  60  dis- 
mounted dragoons,  under  Captain  Turner,  50  California  volunteers,  and 
the  remainder  of  marines  and  sailors,  with  a  battery  of  artillery  ;  Lieu- 
tenant Emory  (topographic-al  engineer)  acting  as  assistant  adjutant 
general.     Commodore  Stockton  accompanied  us.'' 


•m  1 


"  Here  the  claim  to  have  been  the  commander  is  plain,  unequivocal, 
and  unconditional.  In  his  letter  to  me,  however,  of  same  date  (January 
12th),  he  expresses  it  perhaps  even  more  strongly;  since  Commodore 
Stockton  is  not  mentioned  at  all,  and  the  pronoun  'I'  and  'me'  exclude 
the  idea  of  any  participant  in  the  '  possession '  or  command  : 


r  f 


'"■^: 


THE    DEFEXCK. 


301 


'"  PCKBLA    DH   I.OS   ANORLKS,  ) 

*"■  January  12,  1S47— '/"a^Way,  6  p.  M.  ( 
"'Dear  Fremont;  lam  here  in  posscision  of  tfiis  place,  with  sailors 
and  viannes.     We  met  and  defeated  the  wliole  force  of  tlie   Califoniians 
the    8th    and    9th.     They  have    not    now  to  exceed  oOO    men    concen- 
trated.    Avoid  charging  them,  and  come  to  me  at  this  place. 

" '  Acknowledge  the  hour  of  receipt  of  this,  and  when  I  may  expect 
you.     Regards  to  Russell. 

" '  Yours, 

'"S.  W.  Kearney 

" '  Brigadier   General. 
•' '  Lieutenant-Colonel  Fremont.' 

"At  the  next  step,  General  Kearney  slightly  varies  his  claim,  and 
admits  some  qualification  to  the  completeness  of  his  command.  This  is 
on  his  cross-examination.     (Fourth  day  of  the  trial.) 


modore 
ed  the 
n  cxpe- 
hc  2'.)th 
60  (lia- 
rs, and 
;  Lieu- 
djutant 


|uivocal, 

Fanuary 

Imodore 

lexcluJe 


"*In  the  latter  end  of  December,  an  expedition  was  organized  at  San 
Diego  to  march  to  Los  Angeles,  to  assist  Lieutenant-Colonel  Frenioi>t, 
and  it  was  organized  in  consequence,  as  I  believe,  of  this  paper,  which  is 
a  copy  of  a  letter  from  me  to  Commodore  Stockton  of  (December  22). 
Commodore  Stockton,  at  that  time,  was  acting  as  governor  of  California, 
so  sty'ing  himself.  *  *  *  *  He  determined  on  the  expedition,  and  on 
the  morning  of  the  29th  December  the  troops  were  paraded  at  San  Diogo 
for  the  march.  The  troops  consisted  of  about  five  hundred  sailors  and 
marines,  about  sixty  dragoons,  and  about  forty  or  fifty  volunteers. 
While  they  were  on  parade,  Commodore  Stockton  called  several  offictMs 
together;  Captain  Turner,  of  the  dragoons,  and  Lieutenant  Minor,  of 
the  navy,  I  know  were  there,  and  several  others.  He  then  remarked  to 
them  to  the  following  purport;  'Gentlemen,  General  Kearney  has  kindly 
consented  to  take  the  command  of  the  troops  on  the  expedition ;  yo* 
will,  therefore,  look  upon  him  as  your  commander.  /  shall  go  along  a» 
Governor  and  commander-in-chief  in  California.'  'We  marched  toward 
Loe  Angeles,'  &c.  *  *  »  *  '  The  troops,  uiider  my  command, 
marched  into  Los  Angeles  on  the  10th  of  January,'  &c. 

"At  the  next  stage,  in  reply  to  a  question  of  the  judge  advocate,  he 
returns  to  the  positive  and  unconditional  assertion  of  command  : 

"  By  the  act  of  Commodore  Stockton,  who  styled  himself  governor  of 
California,  the  sailors  and  marines  were  placed  under  my  command,  ou 
the  29th  December,  1846,  for  the  march  to  Los  Angelei.     I  comuandkd 


I.-, 


302 


I.IKK    AND    SKIiVICKS   OF   JOHN    C.    FUKMONT. 


Hi 


I  (I 


»■    : 


it 


i  'lijllljl 


'  I  ■ 


niKM  ON  THE  KXPKDiTioN ;  roiiiniodoro  Stockton  (iccompaniod  us.  I 
cxprcisod  no  oomniiiixl  wliiitovcr  over  Commodore  Stockton,  nor  did  he 
ixrrt  ani/  u'hafcvcr  over  inc.* 

"  Aft»>r\viu(l  (fourtoonth  day)  under  oxiimiiisition  by  tlio  co»jrt,  and 
wlion  informiilion  liad  Ikmmi  rrroivod  hen'  of  tlie  arrival  of  C'omjuodore 
Stockton  in  tlio  t'ountry,  the  witness  proatly  modified  his  position  on  this 
point,  and  admits  several  acts  of  autliority  dono  on  the  niareh  by  Cotu- 
modore  Stockton,  and  that  he  Molt  it  his  duty'  to  'consult  the  wishes  of 
tlie  commodore.' 

'"  I  found  Commodore  Stockton,  on  my  arrival  at  San  liiepo,  on  the 
I'ith  December,  1S4(>,  in  command  of  the  Pacific  squadron,  having  seve- 
ral ships,  either  two  or  three,  in  the  harbor  at  that  place.  Most  of  his 
sailors  were  on  shore.  Ho  had  assumed  the  title  of  Covernor  of  Califor- 
nia in  the  month  of  Auj^ust  previous.  All  at  San  Diego  addressed  him  at 
'■governor.''     I  niOTURSAME. 

"  'After  he  had  determined  on  the  march  from  San  Diego  to  Los  An- 
geles, the  troops  being  paraded  for  it  on  t!ui  29th  December,  he,  in  the 
presence  of  several  oflicers,  among  whoMi  was  myself.  Captain  Turner, 
of  the  dragoons,  and  liieutenant  Minor,  of  the  navy,  and  others,  whoso 
names  I  do  not  recollect,  remarked  to  thorn :  •  (Jcntlemen,  General 
Kearney  has  kindly  consented  to  take  command  of  the  troops  in  this  ex- 
pedition ;  you  will  therefore  consider  him  as  your  commander.  I  will  go 
along  as  Govkunok  and  commander-in-chief  \n  Calikoknia.'  Under  Com' 
modorc  Stocktou's  directions  every  arrangement  for  the  expedition  was 
)nod£.  I  had  nothing  whatever  to  do  with  it.  We  marched  from  San 
Diego  to  Los  Angeles.  Whilst  on  the  march,  a  few  days  before  reaching 
Los  Angeles,  a  commission  of  two  citizens,  as  I  believe,  on  behalf  of 
Governor  Flores,  came  to  Commodore  Stockton  with  a  communication  to 
him  as  governor,  or  commander-in-chief  in  California.  Commodore  Stock- 
ton replied  to  that  conunitnieation  xeithout  consulting  me.  On  the  march 
I  at  no  time  considered  Conunodore  Stockton  under  my  direction  ;  nor 
did  I  at  any  time  consider  myself  under  his.  His  assimilated  rauk  to 
Dtlicers  of  the  army  at  that  time  was,  and  now  is,  and  will  for  upwards 
of  a  year  remain,  that  of  a  colonel. 

"  '  Although  I  did  not  consider  myself  at  any  time  or  wider  any  cir- 
cumstances, as  under  the  orders  of  Commodore  Stockton,  yet,  as  so  large 
a  portion  of  my  command  was  of  sailors  and  marines,  I  felt  it  my  duty 
on  all  important  subjects  to  consult  his  wishes,  and,  as  far  as  I  consist- 
eyitly  could  do  so,  to  comply  with  tJiem.'' 


"  But  it  was  not  till  the  fifty-first  day  of  this  trial,  when  he  had  hi.d  the 


TIIK   DEFENCE. 


30.3 


i  US.     I 
'  did  he 


urt,  anil 
iniiodore 
n  on  this 
by  Com- 
vishcs  of 

0,  on  the 
■ing  80VC- 
ast  of  his 
>f  Califor- 
ed  him  at 

0  Los  An- 
he,  in  the 
n  Turner, 
?ra,  whoso 

1,  General 
in  tliis  ex- 

/  will  go 
nder  Com- 
ioii,   was 
rem  San 
reaching 
ohalf  of 
cation  to 
lore  Stock- 
le  march 
lion  ;  uor 
rank  to 
upwards 

•r  ami  cir- 
so  large 
my  duty 

/  coudxt- 

,d  hud  the 


honefit  of  several  weeks'  reflection,  added  to  information  of  the  charac- 
ter of  the  testimony  delivered  by  Commodore  Stockton  and  others,  and 
wnt'ii  he  came  into  court  fortified  with  his  own  ((uestions,  drawn  up  by 
himself  to  S(|uare  with  pn'-arniii^^cd  answers,  that  he  could  be  brouj^ht 
to  the  point  of  admitlin;^  that,  during  the  march,  the  commodore  exi'r- 
cised  the  prerogative  of  sending  him  what  he  calls  '  messages,'  but  the 
conmiodore  calls  'orders'  and  had  directed  many  movements  of  the  ex- 
pedition. Bnt  even  this  day's  admissions  are  80  reluctant,  and  with  so 
many  reservations,  that  for  the  plain  facts  other  testimony  must  neces- 
sarily be  brought  in. 

"  General  Kearney  recites  twice,  and  with  much  particularity,  in  his 
testimony  to  this  point,  his  version  of  what  Commodore  Stockton 
saitl  to  the  troops  l)efore  marcliing  from  San  Diego  on  the  subject  of  com- 
mand ;  laboring  by  an  ingenious  turn  of  the  last  clause,  to  draw  a  dis- 
tinction between  the  commander-in-chief  in  the  tcrrilori/,  and  the  com- 
mander-in-chief of  the  froopa.  This  is  liis  precise  version  of  Governor 
Stockton's  remarks:  '  (reiitlemen,  General  Kearney  has  kindly  consented 
to  take  commaiul  of  tlie  troops  in  this  expedition  ;  you  will  therefore 
look  upon  him  as  your  commander.  /  shall  go  along  a.v  Goveknor  ana 
comniauder-in-cJiief  in  Camfohnia. 

"  This  fine-spun  distinction  seems,  in  fact,  the  corner  stone  of  General 
Kearney's  claim  to  have  been  the  commander  of  the  expedition,  for  while 
he  constantly  persists  in  that  pretension,  he  as  constantly  admits  that 
Commodore  Stockton  was  the  Governor  and  commander  in  the  ter- 
ritory. 

"  1  do  not  refer  to  this  because  I  attach  any  value  to  the  point  in  itself. 
For  any  argument  that  I  desire,  the  version  given  by  General  Kearney 
would  answer  as  well  as  any  other;  for  if  Commodore  Stocktoa  was  gov- 
ornor  and  commander-in-chief  of  California,  his  authority  was  sufficient 
for  my  case,  since  Loa  Angeles,  where  I  believe  the  charges  are  all  laid, 
is  certainly  witliin  that  province.  But  the  distinction  drawn  in  the 
version  given  by  the  witness  was  considered  important  by  him,  and  that 
version  is  contradicted ;  and  tliis  is  the  point  of  view  in  wliich  I  present 
it.  It  is  contradicted  by  Commodore  Stockton,  Lieutenant  Gray,  Lieu- 
tenant  Minor,  and  the  certificate  of  Lieutenant  Rowan,  all  whose  concur- 
rent testimony  affirms  that  Commodore  Stockton's  reservation  of  autlio- 
rity  relutod  to  the  cominander-in-diief  of  the  expedition,  without  tlie 
words  of  (lualification  to  whicli  (icneral  Kearney  testifies  ;  and  it  is  worthy 
of  note  that,  though  a  witness  of  the  prosecution,  Captain  Turner  was 
preseut  at  the  address,  the  prosecution  have  not  thought  proper  to  bring 
him  to  sustain  Geiienil   Kearnev  thus  contradicted. 


304 


LIFE   AND   SKUVICES   OF   JOHN    C.    FREMONT. 


■  i       I 


rli  ■• 


inn.  1 


Iti,;.  .iil!:; 


Ill  I 


:i  li 


WIK 


I'  i. 


*'  A  few  (Ictftc'hod  passaj^es  from  the  testimony  will  show  how  mate- 
rially Cfiu'ial  Kearney  is  contradicted,  in  other  respects,  upon  this  point 
of  the  counnand : 

•'  Oeneral  Kearne;/ :  '  By  the  act  of  Commodore  Stockton,  the  sailors 
and  marines  were  placed  under  my  t^onunand.  J  commanded  t/wm  on  the 
expedition,' 

"  ('o)H)/)nJnrr  Stnrkton  :  '  Durinj:^  ,  liicli  march  I  performed  all  the 
dufiex  which  I  supposed  devolved  on  the  cnuDnandir-in-chicf.'' 

"  General  Kcarni'ii :  '  I  exercised  no  command  whatever  over  Conr 
modore  Stockton,  nor  did  he  exert  ani/  whatever  over  me,^ 

"  ('ommndore  Stockton  :  '  I  was  in  the  hahit  of  sendinf^  my  aid-de-camp 
to  General  Kearneji  to  inform  luni  what  timo  /  wished  to  move  in  the 
morninf^ ;  and  I  alwai/s  decided  on  the  route  wo  should  take,  and  whe7i 
and  where  we  should  encajnp.'' 

"  General  Kearnnj  :  '  The  troops  under  my  command  marched  into  Los 
Angeles,  on  the  loth  of  January.' 

"  Commodore  Stockton :  '  And  when  we  marched  into  the  city,  /  led 
the  V!ai/,  at  the  head  of  the  advanced  f/uard.^ 

"  General  Kearney :  '  On  the  march,  I  at  no  time  considered  Commo- 
dore Stockton  under  my  direction,  nor  did  /,  at  any  tiine,  conaider  my' 
self  under  his.'' 

"  Commodore  Stockton :  '  I  observed  the  guns  being  unlimbered  ;  I  was 
told  it  was  done  by  order  of  General  Kearney  to  return  the  fire  of  the 
enemy  ;  I  ordered  the  guns  limbered  up,  and  the  forces  to  cross  the  river 
before  a  shot  was  fired.'  '  I  observed  that  the  men  of  the  right  flank  had 
been  formed  into  a  square,  and  General  Kearney  at  their  head.  I  sent 
my  r*d-de-camp,  Mr.  Gray,  to  General  Kearney  with  instructions  to  move 
that  square,  and  two  pieces  of  artillery,  immediately  up  \.he  hill.' 

"  General  Kearmy :  '  During  our  march,  many  messages  were  brought 
to  me  from  Commodore  Stockton ;  those  messages  I  looked  upon  as  surf- 
gestions  a.nd  expressions  of  his  ivishcs.  I  have,  si7ice  then,  learned  that 
he  considered  them  in  the  light  of  orders.' 

"  Commodore  Stockton :  '  I  sent  for  Captain  Emory ;  I  asked  him  by 
whose  order  the  camp  was  making  below  the  hill.  He  said,  by  General 
Kcarncy^s  order.  I  told  him  to  go  to  General  Kearney,  and  tell  him  that 
it  was  my  order  that  the  camp  should  be  immediately  moved  to  the  top 
of  the  hill.'  '  I  sent  my  aid-de-camp,  Mr.  Gray,  to  General  Kearney, 
v<ith  instructions  to  move,'  &c.  '  The  witness  (Commodore  Stockton), 
in  enumerating  some  of  the  orders  given  and  some  of  the  details,  executed 
by  himself,  meant  merely  to  cite  instances  in  whicli  General  Kearney  re- 


VV 


»w  mate- 
hia  point 


10  sailors 
m  on  tiie 

il  all  the 

ver  Com- 

l-de-camp 
re  in  the 
and  when 

d  into  Los 

city,  /  led 

d  Commo- 
nsider  my- 

-ed ;  I  was 
fire  of  the 
s  the  river 
,  flank  had 
d.  I  sent 
NS  to  move 

ic  brought 

|)on  as  sw/- 

irned  that 

led  him  by 
)(/  General 
ll  him  that 
|to  the  top 
Kearney, 
IStocktou), 
executed 
[earney  re- 


THE   DEFENO'K, 


805 


cognized  and  acknowlidi/ed  Ins  (tlie  witness's)  command-in-chief  on  the 
Jield  of  Itattle,  as  well  as  in  the  march.'' 

^^  General  Kearney :  '  During  our  march,  his  (Commodore  Stockton's) 
authority  and  eonimand,  thunyh  it  did  not  extend  over  7nc,  or  over  the 
troops  u'hirh  he  had  himself  yiven  ine,  extended  far  beyond,'  &c. 

'■'■  Commodore  Htockton :  'Commodore  R.  Y.  Stockton  begs  leave  to 
add,  &e.,  that  he  wishes  to  be  understood  as  meaning  distinctly  to  con- 
vey the  idea  that  (iencral  Kearney  was  fully  invested  with  the  command 
of  the  troops  in  the  battles  of  the  8th  and  '.>th  of  January,  subject  to  the 
orders  of  him,  the  witness,  as  commandkr-in-chikt.  Most  and  nearly  all 
the  execution  of  details  was  confided  to  Ger.eral  Kearney  as  skcoxd  in 
command.'  '  He  could  not  attempt  to  enumerate  and  specify  the  many 
and  important  acts  of  (Jeneral  Kearney  as  skcond  in  command.^  '  When 
the  troops  arrived  at  San  Uemardo,  I  made  my  head-quarters  a  nule,  or 
two  nnles,  in  advance  of  the  camp ;  and  /  sknt  to  General  Kearney  to 
send  me  the  marines  and  a  piece  of  artillery,  lehich  was  immediately  dont.^ 
^  I  oRnKKKi)  the  troops  all  to  lie  down,^  ke.  '^  After  having  iHHKvrv.a  the 
troops  to  be  formed,  Ac,  /  took  the  marine  guard  and  two  pieces  of  ar- 
tillery,^ kc.  '  On  my  return,  I  gave  ouhkus  where  the  different  officers 
and  troops  were  to  be  quartered,  and  ouoeukd  the  sanie/a^,'  &c. 

"  General  Kearney :  '  I  exercised  no  command  whatever  over  Commo- 
dore Stockton,  nor  did  he  exert  any  whatever  over  me.'' 

*^^  Lieutenant  Gray:  '  Qtiestion.  Did  you  hour  an  order  from  Com- 
modore Stockton  on  the  8th  of  January,  in  the  field,  to  General  Kearney  ? 
— if  so,  state  the  order  and  all  the  circumstances. 

"  *  Answer.  I  did  bear  an  order  from  Commodore  Stockton  to  Gen- 
eral Kearney  on  the  8th  of  January,  on  the  field  of  battle.  The  enemy 
had  been  observed  to  withdraw  his  guns  from  the  height.  The  Commo- 
dore directed  me  to  go  to  General  Kearney,  and  say  to  him,  to  send  a 
square  and  a  field-piece  immediately  up  on  the  height,  to  prevent  the 
enemy's  returning  with  their  guns.  I  went  and  gave  him  the  order,  and 
on  my  return  to  Commodore  Stockton,  observed  the  division,  or  square, 
of  General  Kearney  moving  toward  the  hill. 

"  '  Question.  Did  you  bear  that  order  to  General  Kearney  in  your 
character  of  aid-dc-camp  to  Commodore  Stockton,  the  commander-in- 
chief? 

"  '  Answer.     Yes. 

"  '  Question  by  the  judge  advocate.  Do  you  recollect  the  words  and 
manner  in  which  you  delivered  that  order ;  did  you  deliver  it,  so  that 
General  Kearney  must  have  received  it  as  an  order,  or  merely  as  a  sug- 
gestion ? 


I  1 


I 


If 


i: 

ii4 

li  !    ^ 


i:.:i:^i^ 


306 


LlVli   AND   8tCUVICU8   OK  JOUJi    0.    FUEMONT. 


'"AnRwor.  I  carried  it  an  an  ordfr,  In  the  usiml,  ronpoctful  way, 
lluw  <ii>ii(>rii!  K(>tii'iu>y  n'cfivod  it,  1,  of  foiirMc,  ciinnot  hay.  II«^  d'nl  not 
bIiow  by  lii.s  iimiiiicr,  tluit  it  wus  diHti^ioi'iiblu  tu  liiiii,  accurding  to  tho 
boHt  of  my  n<i'<tlli'<"ti(»ri.' 

"  Finally,  I  Ninill  ooncliido  tliis  point,  by  sliowiii^  that  (lonoriil  Knirnoy 
(lid  not.  nnd  could  not,  iit  any  tiino,  hav(>  oonsidtTrd  liinirtcif  the  com- 
inandor  of  the  i-xpcdition,  or  of  llit>  troops  ooniposing  it,  ami  wii.s  not  ho 
considiTcd  by  tho  army  ofliccr-s  who  hutl  uucompanicd  hint  into  Culi- 
fornia,  and  were  thore.     HcoauHp, 

"  1.  The  i)laco  wliirh  (Joncral  Koarnoy  held  in  the  oxp(Mlition  waH  that 
whioh  had  btn'n  bt'fori'  as.xij^iicd  to  a  lieutenant  of  the  navy,  Berving 
under  Commodore  Stoekton,  and  this  (jcneral  Kearney  knew.  This  in  tho 
te.stiniony  of  Commodore  Stoekton  : 

" '  After  the  forces  had  been  |)araded  preparatory  to  the  march,  and  I 
was  alio\it  mounting:;  r.iy  horse,  (Jeneral  Kearney  came  to  me  and  iiKpiired, 
*' who  was  to  command  tho  troops  V"  I  said  to  him,  lAvutenant  liowan^ 
Jtrnt  lietttt'vant  of  the  Ci/auc,  would  command  t/nvn.  He  gave  me  to 
understand  that  fm  would  like  to  conunand  tho  troops,  and  after  Komu 
further  conversation  on  the  subject,  /  aimed  to  appoint  him  to  the  com' 
tnand,  and  immediately  sent  for  Lieutenant  Rowan,'  &c. 

"2.  lieeause,  at  tho  moment  of  receiving  tho  appoiutment,  he  was 
informed  that  the  command-in-ehief  was  reserved  by  Commodore  Stock- 
ton.    This  is  Commodore  Stockton's  testimony  to  this  point: 

" '  I  immediately  sent  for  Lieutenant  Rowan,  and,  a.s.sembling  the 
ofliicers  that  were  near  at  hand,  stated  to  them  that  General  Kearney 
had  volunteered  to  take  commund  of  the  troops,  but  that  I  retained  my 
oicn  position  as  conDnandcr-in-chicf.  I  directed  my  aid-dc-camp,  and 
the  commissary  who  was  with  me,  to  take  a  note  of  what  I  said  on  tho 
occasion.' 

"  And  to  the  same  effect  is  the  testimony  of  Lieutenant  Gray  and 
Lieutenant  Minor,  and  the  certificate  of  Lieutenant  Rowan. 

"  •\,  Mecause  uoth  General  Kearney  and  tho  otlicers  under  him,  received 
nnd  obeyed  the  orders  of  Commodore  Stockton,  in  some  instances  ia 
opposition  to  tlioso  first  given  by  General  Kearney,  both  on  the  march 
and  in  tho  battles.  Tlie  evidence  on  this  point  need  not  l)e  recapitulated. 
Comniodon>  Stockton  testifies  to  it.  Lieutenant  Gray  te-stifies  to  it,  Lieu- 
tenant Minor  testifies  to  it,  a. id  Lieutenant  EHiory  testifies  to  have  received 
Hud  obeyed  orders  from  Commodore  Stockton. 

"  t.  Because  Lieitienant  Emory,  attached  to  General  Kearney's  dragoon 
escort,  and  acting  as  assistant  adjutant  general,  did  not  make  his  ollicial 
report  of  losses  in  action  in  the  expedition  to  General  Kearney,  but  to 


THK    DKFKNCE. 


807 


Lful  waj. 
t>  did  not 
II};  lo  the 

Kt'iirncy 
the  com- 

fllH  not   HO 

into  Ciili- 

1  wnH  thiit 
r,  serving 
riiis  id  Iho 

rch,  and  I 
I  inquired, 
it  Jiowa7ij 
,vo  nie  to 
il'tcr  8on»c 
!o  the  com- 

it,  he  wn8 
ore  Stocli- 

ibling  the 
Kearney 

tained  my 
[imp,  and 
d  on  the 

5ray  and 

1,  rcc'oivod 
stances  ia 
ic  niiirch 
ipituliitod. 
o  it,  Lii'U- 
0  receivtd 

's  dri\j»oon 
his  oflioiiil 
icy,  but  to 


Commodore  Stockton.  Trie,  Henoral  Kearney  .says  tliifl  was  done  •  without 
his  l<no\vle(l|»e  or  consent  ;'  hut  that  is  only  the  stronj^er  proof  tliat  he  was 
not  rej^arded  or  respected  as  the  conunander-in-cliief,  even  by  his  con- 
(ideiilial  supporters  and  niiliiary  f'aniily. 

"  T).  Hecaiisf  lie  admitted  t«)  Colonel  Kussill,  as  appears  repeatedly  in 
Colonel  HiLssell's  testimony,  that  he  was  servinj;  '</«(/<  r  (.'uniniodore  Stock- 
ton, and  had  been  serving  under  him  from  San  Diego. 

"0.  Ih'caiise  when  I  dtdivered  to  him,  and  he  read  in  iny  presence,  my 
h'tter  to  him  of  17th  January,  in  which  is  this  jiassaj^'e  : 

*' '  1  lii'rnrd  a/no  in  ronvrrsation,  villi  f/mi,  that  oh  the  march  from  San 
Dicjo^  rccvull;/^  to  thin  place,  you  entered  upon,  and  disrharyed  duties 
implyitiy  an  acknoudrdyment  oji  your  part  OK  HiiriiKMACr  to  Commodore 
Utockton,^  he  inaile  no  denial  of  it,  or  olijection  to  it. 

"7.  Because  on  the  It'tth  of  January  he  »ipplied,  in  writing,  to  Com- 
modore Stockton,  'advising'  and  '  od'ering '  'to  take  one-half  of  the 
command,  and  march  to  form  a  junction,'  &c.,  addressing  Commodore 
Stockton  in  tha*  letter  as  '  governor  of  California,  commandiny  United 
/States  forces.^ 

"  On  the  eighth  day  of  the  trial  General  Kearney  testified  as  follows  : 

"  Question. — Do  you  know  whether  the  officers  of  the  battalion  raised 
it  and  marched  it  under  commission  from  Commodore  Stockton  V 

"  Answer. — I  have  always  understood  that  Lieutenant-Colonel  Fremont 
had  raised  that  battalion  under  the  direction  of  Commodore  Stockton. 

"  Question. — With  what  comnii.s.sion  ? 

"  Answer. — I  never  heard  of  Commodore  Stockton  coiiferriny  a  coinmin' 
sio7i  on  Lieutvnant-(^olonel  Fremont,  further  than  having  appointed  him 
military  commandant  of  California. 

"The  object  of  this  inquiry  was  not,  by  any  means,  to  get  an  oppor- 
tunity to  discredit  the  witness.  The  olgect  was  to  ascertain  before  the 
court  that  the  battalion  was  enlisted,  organized,  and  olTicere<l  exclusively 
under  naval  authority,  and  so,  of  course,  subject  to  the  orderf<  of  the 
naval  commander;  and  alsH)  to  ascertain  if  these  facts  were  not  within  the 
knowledge  of  the  witness  when  he  attempted  to  get  command  of  the 
battalion  in  opposition  to  Commodore  Stockton  ;  both  bciivg  inquiries 
pertinent  to  the  i.ssues  of  the  trial,  and  the  facts  being  what  was  desiredv 
Hut  the  nature  of  the  lust  answer  was  such  as  to  leave  the  original 
inquiries  unsettled,  and  to  open  a  new  one. 

"  The  answer  waa  this  :  '  I  never  heard  of  Commodore  Stockton's  con- 
ferring a  commission  on  Lieutenant-Colonel  Fremont,  further  than  having 
appointed  him  military  commandant  of  California.' 


i 


f 


-I 


:i    i. 


•^fl'l  '"J  I 


M  ; 


a<»8 


I.IFIO    AND    BKKVTCF8    OF   JOHN    ('.    FREMONT. 


«Ai      ' 


fi 


!|ll:'il 

'' 


i;    ;  V'( 


|l|n;;;   5,-? 


m  ! 


>M' 


*'  And  the  now  quoHtion  raised  wns  wliptlipr,  in  fact,  the  witness  had 
'  nrnr  heanV  of  a  mutter  ho  notonoiis  in  tliat  country.  Aceordingly,  on 
tlie  next  day  (Jenenil  Kearney  liavinf;  mentioned  tlie  recei|)t  on  the  Idth 
ol'  Dceember,  ISKi,  of  a  certain  eomniunication  irom  Coniniodorc  Stoik- 
ton,  tliis  qne.stion  wan  put, 

"Question. — Did  not  ('onuno(h)r*'  Stoekton,  in  tliat  eominunieation, 
iuf'ofin  i/ou  tliat  (\iptain  Fremont  liad  been  appointed  by  iiiin  MA.roi!, 
and  Lieutenant  (Jiiiespie,  of  the  nnirines,  captain  in  the  CaUfornia 
liiiltalioii  y 

"  And  a  copy  of  the  paper  having  been  shown  to  tho  witnes.s,  he 
answered  : 

"  Answer. — Among  tlie  papers  sent  to  me  by  Commodore  Stockton  ou 
tlie  l('ith  of  DeeendxM',  was  a  copy  of  ids  letter  to  tho  Navy  Pepartnwnt, 
dated  August  '_'S,  IHH?,  tho  second  ])aragrai)h  of  winch  states  that  he  had 
organized  a  (^ilifornian  battalion  of  mounte<l  rilienicn,  by  the  appoint- 
ment of  all  the  neces.sary  ollicers,  and  received  them  as  volunteers  in  tho 
service  of  the  United  States;  f/iat  Captain  Fninont  was  ajipoiufid  tiiajor, 
ami  L'liutenaut  (r'H/rspie,  captai)i  of  the  battalion. 

"  Again,  on  the  loth  day  of  the  trial,  two  other  papers  were  .shown  to 
tlie  witness,  with  this  question  : 

"  Were  not  coi)ics  of  these  two  papers,  describing  him  (Fremont)  as 
Major  Fremont,  among  those  furnished  to  you  by  Uonniiodore  Stockton 
at  San  Diego.  And  were  not  copies  of  them  tiled  in  the  War  Department 
by  yon  since  your  n  turn  from  Culiibrnia,  and  after  joui  arrival  in  this 
city  in  Septend)er  last  * 

"Answer. — (Aftn-  reading  over  the  papers,)  I  think  that  copies  of 
these  papers  vrrc  furnished  to  vie  /,//  (j)nnnodore  Storkion.  To  the  latter 
part  of  the  q»n\>Jtion,  '  were  they  not  filed  by  you  in  the  War  Department 
since  your  return  from  California,  and  after  your  arrival  in  this  city  in 
Scptenilier  lastV'  I  sec  on  the  jxipers  the  certincate  of  Captain  Townscnd 
that  I  dill  so;  f  tliixk  Captain  lownsnid  is  niisfak't')!. 

"  Ibit  on  tho  following  day  he  admitted  that  Ciiptain  Townsend  was 
7iot  mistaken  ;  that  the  papers  hatl  been  put  into  his  hands  by  Conunodore 
Stockton  in  December,  184ti,  and  had  been  fded  by  him  in  tho  war  office 
as  late  as  the  21  st  of  Scptend)er  last.  From  all  this,  however,  it  only 
resulted  that  he  hud  seen  of  the  a])pointment  of  Fremont  as  major  :  that 
he  had  '  never  heard  '  of  i^  was  not  yet  disproved. 

"This  was  accomplished  in  his  testimony  on  the  ninth  day,  when  ho 
ndmitted  as  follows: 

"  '  Commodore  Stockton  did  inform  me,  in  the  conversation  alluded  to 
between   us,  that  California  hud  been  conquered  in  July  and  August  of 


itnoss  had 
(iiiif^ly,  t)U 
II  llu'  K'.tli 
lore  Stof'u- 

ninioivtioii, 

ini   Majou, 

California 

^'itneas,   he 

Itockton  nu 
i(>piirtii;riit, 
lliat  b(«  had 
1 1'  nppoint- 
tocrs  in  the 
jitcd  major ^ 

•c  shown  to 

''reniont)  ns 

VO  SlOl'i\t01l 

Dopartnicnt 
iv;\l  in  this 

copies  of 
o  (ho  hit  tor 
)op;irtniont 
this  city  in 

Townscnd 

iiPond  vfig 
.'oiinno(h)ro 
c  war  oflice 
ver,  it  only 
[UMJor  :  that 

when  ho 

n  alhidod  to 
August  of 


THE   DEI-KNCK. 


309 


the  same  year  (this  conversation  was  heh'  in  Dcconihcr),  and  that  Major 
Fremont  had  f^oiio  to  the  north  to  raise  men,'  Ate. 

"  in  tlio  Pariio  oonnoclioii,  and  for  the  same  purpose,  the  question 
arose,  wli(!ther  Lioutonant  (Jilli'spjo,  of  the  niarino  oorjis,  was  not  also  an 
ofiicor  of  the  l)attaHon  ;  and  tlu;  answer  of  tlw;  witness  was  apain  such  as 
not  only  to  leave  the  original  (piestion  open,  iiiit  to  raise  the  new  one, 
which  brings  the  subject  within  this  branch  of  my  defence.  Tiie  wit- 
nesses' answer  was  as  follows  : 

'"(^aptain  (Jillespio  had  niandied  with  me  from  Ran  Diepo  to  Los 
Angeles,  and  was  serving  under  nio.  If  hU  company  was  with  the  (fall- 
fnrnia  battalinn  I  did  not  know  it.' 

"  It  ap|)eared,  however,  on  examination,  that  the  same  communication 
(of  iiHth  August,  1S4('(),  that  informed  the  witness  that  Fremont  had 
b(M>n  apftointed  major  of  the  battalion,  also  informetl  him  that  (Jillespio 
had  been  appointed  captain  in  it.  It  further  appeared,  that  in  the  sur- 
peoti's  list  of  killed  an<l  wounded  in  the  actions  of  the  8th  and  flih  of 
January,  furnished  by  Lieutenant  Kinory  to  General  Kearney,  and  by  him 
Bont  to  the  department,  Captain  (iillespie  is  reported  as  an  officer  of  the 
California  battalion;  and  Captain  (iillespie  himself  gave  the  following 
emphatic  testimony  : 

"  '  Question.  Did  you  at  any  time  communicate  to  General  Kearney 
your  rank  and  position  in  the  California  battalion?  If  bo,  when  and 
where  was  that  communication  made  'i 

"Answer.  /  did  mmmunicatp  to  (Imcral  Kearney  7ny  position  in  the 
battalion,  on  the  f)th  of  I)ecend)er,  IH'tC),  about  one  o'clock  in  the  day, 
in  the  motnitains  about  half  way  between  Santa  Maria  and  Santa  Isaiiel. 
When  I  met  him  1  was  at  the  head  of  a  detachment  of  volunteers  a»d 
Bailors,  I  having  been  ordered  by  Commodore  Stockton  to  proceed  to 
Warner's  Pass  to  communicate  with  (Jeneral  Kearney.' 

"  These  incjuirios  concerning  the  raising  and  ofhcering  of  the  batta- 
llou  were  matters  connected  intimately  with  the  issues  of  the  trial, 
and  the  answers  of  the  witness  seem  to  indicate  a  consciousness  of  it. 
But  I  do  not  desire  to  present  them  in  any  other  light  than  as  inLStancea 
of  defective  and  equivocating  memory,  and  in  that  view,  affecting  the 
general  credit  of  his  testimony. 

"Under  the  same  infirmity  of  memory  I  am  willing  to  class  the  extra- 
ordinary facility  of  oinis.iion  betrayed  by  the  witness,  in  his  manner, 
which  Hoema  to  be  habitual,  of  half-fdlinri,  where  whole-telling  is  essen- 
tial. Thu«:  On  the  third  day  of  the  trial  he  commences  an  answer  in 
these  words:  '  About  the  14th  of  January,  1847,  /  received  from  Lieuten- 


^i:'' 


310 


I.IFK    AND    SERVICES    OV   JOHN    C.    FREMONT. 


\vi  Mm 


I  '!  ' 


\  m 


Cil 


II I 


illl':'|ii 


nnt  Coloiipl  Froniorit  a  ooinmiinioation,  dutod,'  fic, — tlio  iiiforonco  boiiig, 
of  I'ourso,  tliat  my  roninmiiioiitioii  was  voluntary  ;  tlio  fact  (ami  most  im- 
portniit  one,  too,)  bt'iiig,  tliat  it  was  drawn  out  l»y  no  loss  than  four 
iniportmiiito  letters  that  I  liad  bolore  rcccivi'd.  A^nui,  in  eontinualion 
of  the  snmc  narration  :  'On  tlie  day  .sul^sciiuent,  viz.,  on  tlio  17th  «)f 
January,  Lieutonant-Colonel  Fremont  cmne  to  iny  <jnarters,  and  in  eon- 
vernation,'  &A.\, — the  inference  being,  of  eourse,  that  I  went  at  my  own 
instance,  whereas  the  fact  (most  material  and  relevant,  and  deciding  tlift 
eharacter  of  the  interview)  turned  out,  tliat  I  went  in  compliance  with 
tlie  written  !"e<iue8t  of  tlie  witness  to  see  me  'on  l)usiness.'  Again,  same 
day  :   '  1  was  (irst  vut  by  a  detaeliment  from  Commodore  Stockton,'  &e. 

.  .  .  '  It  camr  from  Commodore  Stockton,  to  <jivc  me  information,' 
kc.  ;  the  inf(M-cnce  Iteing,  tliat  it  went  voluntarily,  or  was  sent  l)y  ('(;mi- 
niodore  Stockton  of  his  own  motion;  the  important  fact  appearing,  how- 
ever, when  Connnodore  Stockton  came  on  the  stand,  three  weeks  after, 
that  it  was  sent  out  at  the  written  recpiest  of  (Jeneral  Kearney,  for  a  party 
*  to  open  comnnniication  with  him,'  &c.  So,  in  the  same  letter,  making 
tilts  ajjplication,  he  writes  to  Commodore  Stockton  as  follows  :  '  Your 
cxprrss,  hi/  Mr.  I'arsoii;  was  met  on  tfw  J)(l  jVortc,  ayid  your  fiiail  must 
have  nachi'd  ]\'ashin(/to7i  at  least  tr?)  dai/s  sinee,^ — omitting  the  material 
fact,  that  Mr.  Carson,  in  addition  to  being  uiet,  was  likewise  turned  baek ; 
and  leaving  the  inference,  that  he  had  gone  on.  Again,  in  his  testimony 
on  the  sixth  day  of  the  trial,  s|)eaking  of  his  position  on  the  hill  of  San 
IJcrnardo,  the  witness  says:  '  1  stated  to  the  doctor  and  others,  that  we 
would  leave  next  morning,  which  we  accordingly  did  ;  JAcutcnant  (Jray, 
of  the  navy,  with  a  ijallant  command  of  sailors  and  marines,  having  come 
into  our  camp  the  niyht  previous,'' — the  inference  being,  that  Lieutenant 
Gray  and  his  command  came  voluntarily,  or  by  chance,  into  the  camp ; 
the  fact  being,  that  it  was  a  detachment  of  two  hundi'ed  and  lifteen  men, 
sent  from  San  Diego  expressly  for  the  relief  of  General  Kearney's  camp, 
and  in  pursuance  of  his  repeated  urgent  calls  for  succor — one  of  them 
(that  by  Lieutenant  Beale,  Mr.  Carson,  and  the  Indian)  conveyMl  tlirough 
the  enemy's  lines  and  an  insurgent  population,  und»>r  circumstaaces  of 
devotion  and  courage  unsurpassed,  but  no  mention  of  which  is  found  in 
the  ollicial  report,  or  any  part  of  the  testimony  of  General  Kearney. 

"  1  give  these  as  examples,  taken  only  from  two  days'  proceedings,  of 
a  vast  deal  of  the  same  sort  of  testimony,  i"unniiig  through  General 
Kearney's  examination. 

"  The  testimony  of  General  Kearney,  in  relation  to  the  charges,  is  the 
next  point  to  which  I  advert,  under  this  head  of  my  defence.  On  the 
sixth  day  of  the  trial,  (ieneral  Kearney  tostities  as  follows: 


cc  boiiig, 

most  im- 
han  JoiLT 
itiniiEitiori 

nth   of 
(1  in  con- 
X  my  own 
L-idinp  tlic 
anoo  with 
;aii»,  same 
;kton,'  &c. 
ormiitioii,' 
t  by  ('(bil- 
ling, how- 
oeks  al'ti^r, 
for  a  [)arty 
.>r,  mulving 
v3 :  '  Your 

vinil  ynunt 
c  material 
rtifd  bark  ; 
i  tostiinony 
liill  of  Sau 
i-s,  that  we 

ant  Graif, 
vi.vg  come 

jicutenant 
le  camp  ; 

'tocu  men, 

icy's  camp, 

10  of  tliom 
X  tliroiigh 

staacos  of 

is  found  iu 

iirney. 

.'cdings,  of 

<;li   General 

rgcs^  ia  the 
i.     On  the 


Ifl 


TliE    DEFENCE. 


311 


•*'Tlic  charges  on  wliich  Lieutenant-Colonel  Fremont  is  now  arraigned 
are  not  my  charges.  I  preferred  a  single  charge  against  I.ieut.  Colonol 
Fremont.  The  charges  on  wliich  he  is  now  arraigned  have  been  changed 
from  mine.'         *♦*.«•••*  t 

"Question  (Ity  Lieutenant-Colonel  Fremont).  Did  you  give  any  infor- 
mation to  the  person  who  drew  up  the  seventh  specilicatiou  under  the 
first,  charge,  in  relation  to  the  cannon? 

"  Answer.     I  kid  not. 

"  This  testimony  was  promptly  eonmiunicated  to  the  War  Office,  by 
my  counsel,  for  tlie  purpose  of  ascertaining  upon  whoi<e  (if  not  (jlen«'ral 
Kearney's),  information  the  charge  had  been  drawn  up,  as  matter  ueees- 
8ary  to  be  known,  unless  I  would  proceed  in  my  defence  against  mi- 
known  and  secret  prosecutors  ;  the  adjutant  general,  by  direction  t-f  tho 
Secretary  of  War,  returned  for  answer  the  emphatic  assurance,  that  the 
charges  and  specifications  produced  to  the  court,  *■  were  baned  upon  facta 
a/fctjid  arid  njfirialli/  reported  to  tin'  department  b;/  Genernl  Kearneti ;  and 
it  is  not  known  or  nndcrt^tood  that  anjf  charf/e  or  specification  has  been 
introduced,  based  on  factx  derived  from  anif  other  source  whatever.^ 

"In  addition  to  this  positive  contradiction  by  the  department,  the 
charges  came  to  the  court  certified  upon  their  faco  as  bemg  j)referred 
^  upon  information  of  Brigadier  Uencral  S.  \V^.  Kearneif  ;''  and  myself  and 
counsel  are  further  informed,  by  the  judge  advocate,  that  the  seventh 
specification  of  the  first  charge  is  copied  literallii  from  the  charge  fur- 
nished by  General  Kearne;i  in  his  aim  hand-U)riiing, 

"  Tliis  inquiry  into  the  charges,  leads  naturally  to  the  subject  upon 
which  that  inquiry  arose,  viz. :  a  certain  nionntitin  howitzer,  lost  by  Gene- 
ral Kearney  at  the  battle  of  San  I'astjual,  a^nd  recovere<l  by  me  at  tho 
capitulation  of  Couenga.  The  iiupiiry  was  not  originally  made,  with  any 
view  or  expectation  that  an  untrue  answer  would  be  given  to  it,  and 
lience  an  opi)ortunity  arise  for  contradicting  the  testimony  of  the  witness. 
On  the  contrary,  the  object  of  the  in(iuiry  was  truth.  It  was  to  ascer- 
tain whether  the  recovery  by  me,  of  a  cannon  so  lost  by  General  Kearney, 
had  been  reported  by  him  to  the  department ;  and,  if  not,  the  argument 
would  be  to  the  impeachment  of  the  temper  and  motive  towards  me  ;  for 
the  loss  of  cannon  is  always  a  source  of  mortification,  and  its  recovery  a 
subject  of  gratulation  and  honorable  report.  It  turned  out  that  the 
recovery  had  not  been  reported,  but  to  escape  the  inference  thus  raised 
the  witness  pleaded  want  of  sufficient  knowledge  of  the  fact.  This,  then, 
became  the  point  at  issue ;  and  to  say  that  this  is  an  incidental  question, 
upon  which  the  answer  of  the  witness  must  suffice,  whether  true  or  false, 
ia  to  say  that  he  may  escape  from  the  consequences  of  one  wrong,  by 


;  ■  f. 


312 


LIFE    AND    8KRYICES    OF    JOHN    C.    FREATONT. 


'   .:i 


conimittinp  a  grontcr;  that  a  fact  cannot  be  proved  goinf?  to  impeach  his 
niotiveft  if  he  chooses  to  deny  it  with  a  falsehood.  But  it  ia  the  rule  of 
law  and  Justice  tlint  'a  man  shull  not  profit  by  his  own  wrong;'  and, 
then^fore,  I  did  not  consider  myself  concluded  by  the  answer  of  the  wit- 
ness ;  but,  finding  by  inspection  of  the  charges,  that  the  witness  (who  I 
had  understood  was  the  sole  acciiser  against  me)  had  suflicicnt  knowledge 
concerning  the  cannon,  to  impute  the  having  of  it  to  me  an  a  crime,  I 
inferred  that  he  ought  to  have  had  fiiifficiont  knowledge  of  it,  to  rejjort 
the  fiaiuinfj  of  it  to  my  credit.  Ilencc,  I  continued  the  inquiry  vt'ith 
the  following  question : 


m 


" '  In  the  seventh  specification,  under  the  first  charge,  you  charge 
Lieutenant-Colonel  Fremont  with  refusing  to  give  up  two  cannon  which 
had  been  brought  from  Fort  Leavenworth,  and  which  were  then  at  San 
Gal)riel.  Will  you  state  what  cannon  they  were,  how  they  were  brought 
from  Fort  Leavenworth,  and  how  they  got  to  San  Gabriel  ?' 

"  And  hence  arose  the  sweeping  declarations  already  examined,  that 
these  charges  '  were  not  his ;'  that  they  '  had  been  changed  from  his ;' 
and  that  he  '  did  not'  furnish  the  information  concerning  the  cannon  on 
which  the  seventh  specification  of  charge  first  was  drawn  up.  After 
which  he  continued  his  "..iiswer  in  these  words : 


"  '  The  two  howitzers,  however,  referred  to,  are  the  two  howitzera 
brought  by  the  first  dragoons  from  Fort  Leavenworth  to  California ;  one 
of  them,  as  was  previously  stated,  was  lost  at  San  Pasqual ;  the  other  we 
took  with  us.' 

"  '  Question.  Do  you  know  that  one  of  those  cannon  was  the  one  lost 
by  you  at  San  I'asqnal  ? 

"  '  Answer.     I  do  not.' 

"  Two  days  after,  he  comes  into  court  with  this  '  explanation  :'  '  In 
reading  over  in  the  papers  this  morning  the  proceedings  of  Monday,  I 
find  the  following  question  put  to  me  by  the  accused,  and  my  answer 
thereto,  as  follows : 


m 


"  *  Question.  Do  you  know  that  one  of  those  cannon  was  the  one  lost 
by  you  at  San  Pasqual  ? 

*' '  Answer.     I  do  not.' 

*'  '  I  have  now  to  explain  that  /  had  no  personal  knowledge  of  it ;  I  had 
a  knowledge  of  if  from  an  official  report  made  to  my  staff  officer  by 
Lieutenant  Colonel  Cooke.' 

"  Now,  on  this  point,  General  Kearney  is  contradicted  by  his  own  wit- 


Tire   DEFKNCK. 


313 


)each  Ilia 
R  ruW;  of 
ip;'  and, 
'  the  wit- 
is  (who  I 
riowk'dKe 
I  rriinn,  I 
to  roi)ort 
iiiry   vtith 


)U  charge 
ion  which 
en  at  San 
•e  brought 

lined,  that 
from  hig;' 
cannon  on 
ap.     After 


howitzerg 
ornia ;  one 
e  other  we 

he  one  lost 


Hon:'  'In 
Monday,  I 
my  answer 


he  one  lost 


fit;  I  had 
officer  BY 

lis  own  wit- 


ness ;  for  Lieutenant  Colonel  Cooke  testifies  to  having  received  from 
(Jeneral  Kearuoy  orders  in  relation  to  the  cannon  before  he  ever  made 
any  report  on  the  sulyect. 

"This  is  from  Major  Cooke's  testimony  in  chief,  delivered  on  the  four- 
toenti   day  of  the  trial : 

*'  'On  the  lAth  of  March,  I  rode  out  from  Los  Angeles  to  the  mission 
of  San  Galjriel,  accompanied,  &c.  I  called  on  Captain  Owens  at  his 
(juartors,  and  shortly  after  asked  to  look  at  the  artillery.  lie  showed 
them  to  me  in  the  court  of  the  mission,  and  I  observed  two  mountain  howit- 
zcrs,  which  I  believed  had  been  brought  to  that  country  by  the  dragoons. 
I  had  received  verbal  in.strnctions  from  (tcneral  Kearney^  by  Captain  Tur- 
ner, to  have  them  turned  over  to  company  C\  under  my  command ;  and 
had,   before  I  left  town^  ordered  mules  and   drivers  to  be  sent  after 

THEM.' 

"  This  relates  to  occurrences  of  the  lAth  of  March,  whilst  the  verbal 
instructions '  referred  to,  afterward  ascertained  to  be  written  memoranda, 
were  issued  from  Montr rey  about  the  l.s<  of  3 f arch,  and  the  only  report 
made  upon  the  subject  by  Major  Cooke  was  of  March  25th. 

"  This  is  Major  Cooke's  testimony  to  these  points  (eighteenth  day  of 
the  trial) : 

" '  Question.  Ls  your  letter  or  report  of  the  25th  March,  which  was 
read  in  your  cross-examination  of  Thursday,  your  official  report  to  your 
superior  officer?  and  docs  it  refer  to  the  same  events  as  tliose  narrated 
in  your  testimony  ?  and  did  you  ever  make  any  other  o  icial  report  of 
those  occurrences  to  General  Kearney,  or  to  any  other  officer  for  him  ? 

"  '  Answer.  It  wax  my  official  report.  It  refers  to  tlie  same  subject  as  my 
evidence  in  chief.  I  do  not  remember  having  made  any  other  report  to 
him  or  to  any  one  else. 

"  '  Question.  Did  you  have  any  verbal  or  special  order  in  relation  t6 
ordnance,  arms,  &c.  ? 

"  '  Answer.  I  had  some  verbal  orders  in  relation  to  arms,  communi- 
cated, however,  in  the  form  of  vyritten  numoranda.  *  *  * 
I  have  them  not  here,     I  lost  all  my  papers  by  an  accident,  &c. 

"  '  Question.  Will  you  state  the  tenor  of  those  orders  and  instructions, 
giving  the  words  as  far  as  possible,  and  whom  they  came  from  ? 

"  '  Answer.  They  came  from  General  Kearney,     I  was  directed,  I  be- 
lieve, to  put  the  H0WITZER.S  in  charge  of  the  dragoons. 
*  *  *  *  I  received,  at  the  same  time  an  official 

letter  from  General  Kearney.' 

14 


I 


0 


* 

\ 

' 

■ 

* 

11 

A 


'i 
li 

l 

.    i 

f:i'tj 

i       MV      Ni'ii' 

!(               .1" 

ill 

i:: 


III 


^i 


I 


314 


I.IPK    AND    BEKVrrK!^    OF   JOHN    C.    FKKMONT. 


"  A  copy  of  tliis  oflioiul  lotfor  was  procliirrd  tlip  iioxt  dny.  aiulfoiind  to 
l»o  (liilod  at  Moiitcrov,  Mmrh  I,  which  fixcH  the  time  of  those  '  vcrbul 
ordcrn'or  '\vrill(<ii  uiemoraiidii.'  Kiiiiilly,  on  tlie  nineteenth  iind  Iweii- 
ticth  days  of  the  trial,  Major  Cooke  nj^ain  leslilies,  concernin';  llie  same 
verbal  instruclioiiH  as  l'oIh)\vH  : 

"'I'ndt'r  onUnary  circnmstanccfl,  I  Hlioidd  have  deemed  it  my  <Iuty  to 
Iiave  enlbrced  my  or(h'rs  in  relation  to  tiie  artill«'ry,  IbunchMl  on  the  verbal 
orders  vf  the  (jnieraf.  The  verl)al  orders  allnded  to  might  he  considered 
as  givin;,;  higlier  importance,  in  my  vi(>\v,  to  the  ohjtrt  to  lir  atlaiiinl, 
which  was  to  turn  over  to  company  (',  1st  dragoons,  Ihr  tirn  vwunhtin 
hoifitxcrs.'' 

"  I'rom  all  \vhicl\,  it  residts  that  General  Kearney's  first  information  con- 
cerning the  cannon  was  mtt  received  throtigh  Major  CooUc'h  report,  hut 
that  the  report  lesidted,  in  fact,  from  orders  altout  the  cannon,  given 
by  (Jeneral  Kearney  several  weeks  l)efore  the  rejmrt  was  made. 

"  The  first  great  allegations,  then,  made  by  (General  Kearney  to  oscnpo 
from  the  original  simple  and  cojnparatively  innocent  fact  snjjposetl  by  the 
inquiry  concerning  the  cannon,  are  contradicted,  in  their  whole  essence, 
by  the  oHicial  assurance  of  the  S<KM'etary  of  War,  by  the  charges  as  they 
are  certified  by  the  judge  advocate  to  the  court,  and  by  the  original 
draft  of  accusations  against  me  in  (Jeneral  Kearney's  own  hand  ;  while  his 
Kubsecpient  'explanation  '  to  escape  from  tliis  lal)yrinth,  by  attempting  to 
draw  a  distinction  between  personal  kiiorrlcdije  and  official.  k)towIed(j<\ 
iuvolves  him  in  the  repudiation  of  his  own  orders,  and  in  a  double  contra- 
diction with  himself  and  ^vitJi  Major  Cooke,  his  own  witness. 

"  I  think  it  proper,  I  think  it  my  duty,  to  introduce  here  some  maxima 
of  the  law,  which,  I  am  advised,  are  recognized  in  all  courts. 

"Where  it  turns  out  that  a  Avitness's  testimony  is  corruptly  false  in 
any  particular,  it  should  be  entirely  disregarded  by  the  jury. 

"A  witness's  crediliility  being  seriously  impeached  by  written,  or  otlior 
plain,  dclil)crat(>  contradictory  statement  by  him,  and  not  supported, 
ought,  it  would  seem,  to  be  entirely  rejected. 

"  Hut  where  a  party  si)eaks  to  a  fact,  in  reference  to  which  he  cannot 
be  pre  umod  liable  to  mistake,  if  the  fact  ttnn  out  otherwise,  it  is  ex- 
tremely dillicult  to  exempt  him  from  the  charge  of  deliberate  falsehood  ; 
and  courts  of  justice,  under  such  circumstances,  are  bound  njion  ]irinci- 
ples  of  law,  morality,  and  justice,  to  apply  the  maxim,  \fafsns  in  itno,  fal- 
sux  in  omnibus.'' — pause  in  onk,  fai.sk  in  At-i..      (See  Phillips  on  Evi- 


dence, vol.  iii.  pp.  ;V.)7 


an.i  /  ( 


.) 


»:A 


Mr.  PnF.siPKNT  :  The  length  of  this  defence  precludes  the  necessity 


!1»  ' 


VKUmCT   OF  TIIR  COtlRT   MAUTIAL. 


fiilso  in 


cimnot 
it  is  ox- 
nsohoocl ; 
i\   prinoi- 
\i()io,  fill- 
on  Evi- 

lecessity 


of  rrcnpltiilation.  I  omit  it,  and  go  to  the  concluHion  with  a  few  l)rief 
ivIicotioiiH,  uH  pci'tiiiciit,  I  trust,  us  tlicy  lire  trun. 

"  I  consider  these  dillienllies  in  Cnlilbrniii  to  he  ii  eonicdy — (very  neur 
hv\u<^  a  traf^edy) — of  tliree  enors :  y//-,s7,  in  the  faidty  orders  sent  out 
frotu  tins  [thiee  ;  iicxt,'n\  the  uiijustilial)lo  pretensions  of  (leneral  Kearney  ; 
(/lirdli/,  in  tlu;  eondnet  of  tlu;  government  in  sustaining  these  pre;* 
tensions.  And  tlie  hist  of  tliese  errors  1  consider  thi;  f^reatest  of  tlio 
three. 

"  Certainly  the  difliculties  in  CaHfornia  ouglit  to  ho  iiKpnred  into  ;  hut. 
how?  Not  hy  |)rosecutiiig  tlie  suhordinatc,  hut  the  principals;  not  \>y 
jirosecuting  '  ni  wlio  prevented,  hut  him  who  would  have  made  civil  war 
If  it  was  a  crime  in  me  to  accept  the  governorship  from  Commodoro 
Stockton,  it  was  a  crime  in  him  to  liavc  hestowed  it ;  and  in  eiliier  event, 
crime  or  not,  the  government  which  knew  of  his  intention  to  ai)point 
nie,  and  did  not  forhid  it,  has  lost  the  right  of  prosecuting  either 
of  us. 

"  My  acta  in  California  have  all  hccn  with  high  motives,  and  a  desire 
for  the  puhlic  Borvice.  My  scientific  labors  did  something  to  open  Cali- 
fornia to  the  knowledge  of  my  countrymen  ;  its  geograjjliy  had  been  a 
sealed  book.  "^ly  military  operations  were  concpiests  without  hloodsiied  ; 
my  civil  administration  was  for  the  public  good.  I  offer  Califoriua, 
during  my  administration,  for  comparison  with  the  most  tranquil  portion 
of  the  United  States:  I  oiler  it  in  contrast  to  the  condition  of  New 
Mexico  during  the  same  time.  I  prevented  civil  war  against  Governor 
Stockton,  by  refusing  to  join  General  Kearney  against  him :  I  arrested 
civil  war  against  myself,  by  consenting  to  be  deposed — offering  at  the 
same  time  to  resign  my  post  as  lieutenant  colonel  in  the  army. 

"  I  have  been  brought  as  a  prisoner  and  a  criminal  from  that  country. 
I  could  return  to  it,  after  this  trial  is  over,  without  rank  or  guards,  and 
wit'iout  molestation  from  the  people,  except  to  be  importuned  for  tlie 
monoy  which  the  government  owes  them. 

"  I  am  now  ready  to  receive  the  sentence  of  the  court." 

Tlie  reading  of  this  defence,  which  occupied  three  ses- 
sions of  the  court,  was  concluded  on  the  26th  of  January, 
1S48.  The  three  succeeding  days  were  spent  in  deliber- 
ating upon  the  case,  and  on  the  day  following,  January 
31,  the  court  rendered  its  verdict  of  "guilty  "  on  all  the 
charires,  and  sentenced  the  accused  to  be  dismissed 
from  the  service. 


316 


Llt^lC  AND  SERVICES  Off  JOUN  0.   FREMONT. 


Accompanying  tlio  verdict,  were  the  following  papers, 
wliicli  were  directed  to  be  made  parts  of  the  record. 
Tile  first,  signed  by  the  President  of  the  Court,  Bt.  J3rig. 
General  Brooke,  Lieut.  Col.  Taylor,  and  Major  Baker, 
was  as  follows : 

"  Under  the  circumstancea  in  which  LieiitenfintCol.  Freinont 
was  pl.iccd  between  two  oflicers  of  superior  rank,  each  claiming 
to  coniniand-in-chief  in  Cahfornia — circumstances  in  their  nature 
calcuhited  to  embarrass  the  mind,  and  excite  the  doubts  of 
oflicers  of  greater  expe.ience  than  the  accused  t  and,  in  conside- 
ration of  the  important  professional  services  rendered  by  him, 
previous  to  the  occurrence  of  tlie  acts  for  which  he  has  been 
tried,  the  undersigned,  members  of  the  court,  respectfully  com- 
mend Lieutenant-Colonel  Fremont  to  the  lenient  consideration  of 
the  President  of  the  United  States." 

The  other,  signed  by  Lieutenant  Colonel  Long,  Lieu- 
tenants-Colonel Morgan,  and  Major  Delafield,  was  a 
follows : 

"  Under  all  the  circumstances  of  this  case,  and  in  considera- 
tion of  the  distingu'/hed  professional  services  of  the  accused, 
previous  to  the  transactions  for  which  he  has  now  been  tried, 
the  undersigned  beg  leave  to  recommend  him  to  the  clemency 
of  the  President  of  the  United  States." 


President  Polk  refused  to  confirm  the  verdict  of  the 
court,  as  to  the  first  charge,  but  "approved"  of  the 
sentence,  which,  however,  he  immediately  remitted. 
The  following  was  his  order  in  the  case  : 

"  Upon  an  inspection  of  the  record,  I  am  not  satisfied  that 
the  facts  proved  in  this  case  constitute  the  military  crime  of 
'  mutiny*'     I  am  of  opinion  that  the  second  and  third  charges 


■ 


Fipers, 

Brig. 
3akor, 


remont 

n  at  lire 
ibts  of 
.',onsule- 
.)y  him, 
as  been 
lly  com- 
•ation  of 


^,  Lieu- 
was  a 


)nsiJera- 
accused, 
jn  tried, 
leinency 


of  the 

of  the 

smitted. 

led  that 
nine  of 
charges 


VERDICT   OF   THE   COURT  MARTIAL. 


317 


are  sustained  by  Iho  proof,  and  th;it  tlie  conviction  upoti  tlieso 
chari;es  warrants  tlio  seiiLeucu  of  the  court.  Tlio  sentence  of  the 
court  is  theretore  ai)i)roveil  ;  but,  in  (consideration  of  the  pecu- 
Har  cii'cuHislunces  of  the  case,  of  the  previous  meritorious  and 
valuable  services  of  Lieutenant-Colonel  Fremont,  and  of  the 
foregoing  recommendations  of  a  majority  of  the  members  of  the 
court,  the  penalty  of  dismissal  from  the  service  is  remitted. 

"  Lieutenant-Colonel  Fremont  will  accordingly  be  released 
from  arrest,  will  resume  his  sword,  and  report  for  duty. 

"James  K.  Polk." 

Upon  receiving  notice  of  the  result  of  the  trial, 
Colonel  Fremont  addressed  the  following  letter  to  the 
Adjutaut-Geiieral : 

"WAsmKQTON  CiTT,  0  Street,  Feb,  19,  1S48. 

"  Sir  :  I  have  this  moment  received  the  general  ord^r.  No.  7 
(dated  the  17th  instant),  making  known  to  me  the  fina'  decision 
in  the  proceedings  of  the  general  court-martial,  befora  which  I 
have  been  tried;  and  hereby  send  in  my  resignation  of  lieu- 
tenant-colonel in  the  army  of  the  United  States. 

"In  doing  this,  I  take  the  occasion  to  say  that  my  reason  for 
resigning  is  that  I  do  not  feel  conscious  of  having  done  anything 
to  merit  the  finding  of  the  court ;  and,  this  being  the  case,  I 
cannot,  by  accepting  the  clemency  of  the  President,  admit  the 
justice  of  the  decision  against  me. 

"  Very  respectfully  your  obedient  servant. 

"J.  C.  Fremont." 

The  President  did  not  act  upon  this  resignation  for 
some  time,  and  as  the  President's  acceptance  was 
necessary  to  give  it  legal  effiict,  Col.  Fremont  addressed 
the  adjntant-general  a  note  to  that  effect  on  the  lith 
of  March,  and  received  a  reply  on  the  following  day 
announcing  the  acceptance  of  his  resignation  from  that 


i 


illi 


m 


!.s 


I  'III 


llliPl 


318 


LIFE  AND   SERVICES  OF  JOHN   0.    FREMONT. 


(Iftfe.  Thus,  on  tlie  15tli  day  of  May,  IS-iS,  and  in  tho 
31tli  year  of  his  a^ii^o,  Col.  Fremont's  connection  with  tho 
military  profession  terminated,  and  his  manhood  once 
more  resumed  its  natural  proportions.* 

*  "  In  pursuance  of  his  original  intentions  as  communicated  to  tho 
povernrnt'iit  in  August,  184G,  Commodore  Stockton  appointed  Colonel 
Fremont  civil  governor  of  California,  and  Colonel  William  II.  Russell, 
secretary.  Governor  Fremont  immediately  entered  on  the  duties  of  liis 
olfice,  and  the  people  acquiesced  in  his  exercise  of  authority. 

"  The  commodore  and  ids  maritime  army  returned  to  the  squadron, 

"  The  porforniance  of  his  duties  as  governor  of  California  by  Col.  Fremont 
were  incompatible  with  the  authority  which  General  Kearney  attempted 
to  exercise  over  him  by  virtue  of  seniority  of  rank,  notwithstanding  tlio 
President  and  Secretary  of  War  both  justified  the  appointment  of  Colonel 
Fremont  by  Commodore  Stockton,  as  civil  governor  of  California,  yet 
nevertheless  he  was  permitted  to  bo  brought  to  trial  on  charges  of  diso- 
bedience preferred  by  General  Kearney.  lie  was  found  guilty  on  several 
charges  and  specifications,  by  a  court  evidently  disposed  to  favor  General 
Kearney.  The  finding  of  the  court  was  approved  in  part  by  the  Presi- 
dent, but  the  sentence  remitted. 

"Indignant  with  the  injustice  and  inconsistency  manifested  by  the 
government,  Colonel  Fremont  promptly  resigned  his  commission  in  the 
army. 

"  Towards  tho  close  of  the  Mexican  war,  tho  army  was  powerful  and 
popular  at  Washington.  The  esprit  de  corps  of  military  gentlemen  was 
piqued  and  offended  with  Fremont's  deference  to  a  naval  commander, 
and  his  sacrifice  was  demanded.  The  President  and  Secretary  of  War 
had  not  the  moral  courage  and  firmness  which  the  occasion  required,  and 
Colonel  Fremont  was  driven  from  the  army." — Life  of  Commodore  Stock- 
ton, p.  154. 


FOURTH    EXPIXHtlNO    KXPEDITION. 


819 


CHAPTER  XI. 

COLONEL   FREMONT   PROJECTS   A   FOURTH  EXPLORING  EXPEDI- 
TION— CALIFORNIA    CLAIMS   BILL SPEECHES   OF  SENATORS 

BENTON,      CLARKE     AND     DIX — MAP    AND    GEOGRAPHICAL 

MEMOIR REPORT      OF      SENATOR      BREESE PROFKSSOR 

TORREy's    PLANTyE    FREMONTIAN^ GOLDEN  MEDAL  FJIOM 

THE      KING      OF      PRUSSIA LETTER     FROM     HUMBOLDT 

founder's  medal  from  THE  ROYAL  GEOGRAPHICAL 
SOCIETY  OF  LONDON — LETTERS  FROM  JOHN  M.  CLAYTON 
AND   ABBOrr  LAWRENCE — REPLY  OF  COLONEL  FREMONT. 


"When  Mr.  Fremont  abandoned  the  profession  for 
which  he  had  accomplished  himself,  and  sat  himself 
down  the  morning  after  his  resignation  was  accepted,  to 
determine  what  useful  end  the  remainder  of  his  life 
should  be  devoted  to,  he  was  but  thirty-four  years  of 
age.  Within  that  period  he  had  attached  his  name 
imperishably  to  the  historical,  geographical,  scientific 
and  political  history  of  his  country.  The  highest  peak 
of  the  longest  chain  of  mountains  on  this  continent  had 
accepted  his  name  in  token  of  his  being  its  first  explorer ; 
the  plants  which  bloomed  on  its  sides  and  in  its  valleys, 
had  received  from  him  their  nomenclature ;  as  the 
deliverer  of  California  from  Mexican  misrule,  he  had 
identified  himself  for  ever  with  the  most  durable  tradi- 


^w 


320 


LIFK    AND   SERVICES   OF   JOHN    C.    FIIEMONT. 


m 


tions  of  tlijit  wonderful  Stiito;  as  n  geo^niphcr  ho  had 
M'on  the  hoinaiijc  of  tlio  wliolc  scluiitilic  woi'ld  ;  and 
filially  ho  l»ad  acliievcd  ainoiii^  his  own  coiintrynu'ii  a 
l)(>l»ularity  nuiro  luianiiiKnis  and  nioro  nnivcrsal  tiian  liad 
over  ln'foi'u  bt'on  enjoyt'd  by  any  one  of  his  years.  These 
reileetions  were  well  ealeulated  to  sootli  any  niortitiea- 
tion,  if  lie  had  felt  any,  at  the  result  of  the  eourt  martial. 
Starting  life  without  means  and  aided  only  by  the  friends 
ho  had  made  himself,  and  his  own  energies,  he  had 
reached  distinction  before  ho  had  reached  the  maturity 
of  his  faculties  ;  and,  beibre  most  men  have  begun  their 
career  ho  was  covered  with  honors  enough  for  the  close 
of  his. 

None  of  these  considerations,  however,  disposed  him 
to  idleness.  On  the  contrary  his  plans  for  a  laborious 
and  nseful  future  were  soon  formed.  Wliilo  in  Califor- 
nia he  had  made  arrangements  for  the  purchase  of  the 
tract  of  land  known  as  the  Mai*aposas,  of  the  value  of 
which  he  had  informed  himself  during  his  third  exj)edi- 
tion.  Upon  this  he  determined  to  settle  as  soon  as  he 
had  demonstrated  the  practicability  of  uniting  the 
Atlantic  and  Pacific  States  by  a  public  highway.  This 
ho  resolved  to  do  before  allowing  himself  any  but  neces- 
sary repose,  and  soon  made  his  arrangements  for  a 
new  trip  across  the  plains,  the  following  winter. 

The  intervening  period  was  occupied  in  doing  what  he 
could  to  procure  a  settlement  of  the  bills  incurred  in 
the  conquest  and  defence  of  California  in  1847,  and  in 
making  up  a  report  of  the  scientific  results  of  his  last 
expedition. 

On  the  1st  of  February,  the  military  committee  of 
the  Senate,  consisting  of  Messrs. Cass,  Benton,Crittenden, 
Dix,  Rusk  and  Davis,  commenced  an  investigation  in 


^ 


CALIFOUNIA   CLAIMS. 


321 


relation  to  tlic  claims  abovo  rcforrcd  to,  ainountin<ij  in 
all  to  Homo  $700, 000  for  the  itaymcnt  of  wiiich  atnotiiit 
h  l)ill  was  atYerwanlrt  iiiri'odiuHMl.  The  ijeiicliciai'li's  of 
tiiis  hill  and  its  <j;eneral  ])^ovi^ioIls  are  descrihi'd  with 
suiHcient  niiiintciiess  in  the  fullowiii<^  ])arap;rai)h  near 
the  close  of  a  speech  made  in  its  favor  hy  Senator 
IJenton. 

"Tho  California  hattalion,  formed  out  of  the  Ainorican  settlors 
on  the  Sacranioato  and  the  men  of  tiio  topo-jfrapliical  i)arty  (re- 
inforced afterwards  hy  later  ('mi<,naiitH  from  the  United  States), 
finislied  on  the  IMains  of  Cotieniifa  the  movement  whic^li  had 
commenced  at  Sonoma,  and  in  tlie  same  spirit  of  JMstiee,  mode- 
ration and  patrioti-iin.  In  conjunction  with  the  sailors  and  ma- 
rines, they  had  twice  conquered  CaHfornia  before  the  United 
States  troops  arrived  in  the  country.  They  did  it  without  aid 
from  the  United  States — without  quartermasters,  commissaries, 
and  paymasters  to  carry  feed  and  pay  them.  The  fruits  of  all 
their  labors  have  been  received  bv  the  United  States,  and  the 
bill  rendered  is  only  seven  hundred  thousand  dollars — a  fraction 
only  of  the  amount  paid  to  those  who  arrived  after  the  work  was 
done.  It  should  have  been  provided  for  in  one  of  the  public 
bills.  It  is  an  appropriation,  and  of  a  public  nature,  ami  of  a 
most  sacred  nature.  It  should  at  least  have  had  a  place  in  that 
"Deticiency"  bill  of  fourteen  millions,  which  lately  passed 
Congress,  for  what  can  be  more  deficient  than  non-payment,  for 
almost  two  years  for  such  extraordinary  services?  Even  if  this 
bill  is  passed  at  once  and  with  the  least  possible  delay  from  legis- 
lative forms,  it  will  still  be  almost  half  a  year  before  the  claim- 
ants can  begin  to  touch  their  pay.  The  bill  is  carefully  drawn, 
both  with  a  view  to  publi<;  and  to  private  justice.  It  is  intended  to 
settle  up  and  pay  u\>  all  just  chiims,  and  to  close  the  door  for- 
ever upon  all  false  ones.  A  commissioner  acquainted  with  the  sub- 
ject, familiar  with  everytransaction,is  to  go  to  California,  visit  every 
district  in  which  claims  are  originated,  call  all  before  them,  allow 

.14* 


WWT 


322 


LIFE   AND   SERVICES   OF  JOHN   C.    FREMONT. 


i 


I 


m^> 


fr     i 


m 


m-, 


the  good,  reject  the  bad,  and  bar  all  that  are  not  presented  to  them. 
In  this  way,  and  in  this  alone,  can  justice  be  done  to  all  parties,  just 
claimants  saved  from  the  depredations  of  agents  and  speculators ; 
the  United  States  saved  from  paying  false  accounts,  and  California 
prevented  from  becoming  a  mine  for  the  production  of  false 
claims  for  half  a  century  to  come.  The  great  and  main  facts  that 
services  have  been  rendered,  that  the  United  States  have  received 
the  benefits  of  these  services,  and  that  they  have  not  been  paid 
for,  are  established  by  the  depositions ;  the  mode  of  settlement, 
and  the  detail  of  payment,  is  directed  by  the  bill." 

Senntor  Clarke  of  Eliode  Island,  in  the  course  of  a 
long  and  able  speech  upon  the  same  subject  paid  the  fol- 
lowing tribute  to  Col.  Fremont's  services. 

"Mr.  President  :  The  former  explorations  of  Col.  Fi'emont 
through  the  wilderness  of  the  extreme  West,  have  given  him  an 
enviable  reputation  in  the  world  of  science.  His  maturity  of 
thought,  and  polished  and  cultivated  intellect,  united  to  a  firm 
resolution,  and  a  coui'age  that  never  quailed — all  eminently  fitted 
him  tor  the  mission  he  so  well  and  so  readily  undertook  and 
performed.  Ilis  enoi-oy  of  character  qualified  him  for  the  posi- 
tion in  which  hi.-?  govci  nnient  had  placed  him.  If  we  tDudemn  this 
invasion  of  the  territory  of  a  friendly  power,  I  would  not  be  under- 
stood as  refiecting  upon  the  man,  who  in  obedience  to  his  govern- 
ment, conducted  that  invasion  and  carried  out  those  wishes  to 
the  entire  subjugation  of  the  country.  I  would  not,  sir,  take  a 
feather  from  his  plume,  nor  a  sprig  from  the  garland  that  encir- 
cles his  brow.  Whatever  may  be  the  rigid  rules  of  war, 
or  the  technicalities  of  the  service  under  which  this  officer  has 
sutfort'd,  his  hoiinr  is  'uilarnislicd — his  high  reputation  as  a  sol- 
dier is  un>j)oiteu  —  the  crowning  ad  of  lii>  cvciitltii  life  is  t're.sli 
in  our  recollection.  When  the  coannissioh  which  he  l>orc,  and 
which  he  would  have  yielded  up  only  with  his  life,  became  tainted 
with  censure,  fivmly  he  tendered  it  back  to  the  executive  whom  he 


T 


CALIFORNIA   CLAIMS. 


323 


had  obeyed,  and  to  the  country  which  he  had  served  so  faithfully. 
He  is  now  a  citizen  amongst  us,  and  dt'servcs  all  our  coiifidence. 
lie  is  identified  with  the  events  in  California,  and  who  so  fittin<r 
as  he  to  bring  these  claims  to  a  just  and  proper  conclusion  ?" 


-i  ;-3 


In  the  course  of  the  same  debate,  Senator  Dix  of  Xew 
York,  expressed  the  following  opinion  of  Mr.  Fremont 
and  his  pnblic  services. 

"In  the  execution  of  these  objects,  the  young  and  accom- 
plished officer  at  the  head  of  our  troops,  Col.  Fremont,  exhibited 
a  combination  of  c-ner'jy,  iM'omptitude,  sagacity  and  prudence, 
which  indicated  the  highest  capacity  for  civil  and  military  com- 
mand ;  and,  in  connection  with  what  ho  has  done  for  the  causa 
of  science,  it  has  given  him  a  reputation  at  home  and  abroad,  of 
which  men  much  older  and  more  experienced  than  himself  might 
well  be  proud.  That  the  country  will  do  justice  to  his  valuable 
and  distinguished  services,  I  entertain  not  the  slightest  doul)t.  * 
*  *  *  The  objects  accomplished  by  Col.  Fremont,  as  subse- 
quent developments  have  shown,  were  far  more  important  than 
those  I  have  referred  to.  There  is  no  (.loubt  that  his  rapid  and 
decisive  movements  kept  Califoriiia  out  of  the  hatids  of  P/ritish 
subjo.'is,  and  perhaps  out  of  the  hands  of  the  liritish  government, 
and  it  is  in  this  point  of  view  that  1  desire  to  present  the  subject 
to  Senate.  *  *  *  *  *  It  is  in  this  point  of  view  that 
the  transaction  possesses  the  greatest  interest  and  importance, 
and  that  the  sagacity,  promptitude  and  decision  of  our  youthful 
commander  in  California,  at  the  time  the  disturbance  broke  out, 
have  given  him  the  strongest  claims  on  his  countrymen.  Any 
faltering  on  his  part  —any  hesitancy  in  acting,  and  acting 
promptly — miglii  have  cost  us  millions  of  •Joliar--  and  thousands 

lives;  and  it  miu'ht  also  have  cost  us  a  contest  of  which  the 


Ui 

eu(. 


d  is  not  readily  foreseen. 


Col.  Fremont  has  never  published  any  re})ort  either 


324 


LIFE   AND    BERVICKS   OV   JOHN    0.    FREMONT. 


1 

MH^ 

m 

apl 

m 

to!' 

Iji ', 

m' 

mi 


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I 


'i*^  ;tJ 


:m 


of  Ill's  third  or  Bubsequent  expeditions.  The  fullest 
account  of  the  third  wliicli  lias  been  made  will  be  found 
in  the  preceding  pa^^es.  On  the  5tliof  tluno,  the  Senate 
ordered  twenty  thousand  copies  of  a  map  of  Oregon 
jnid  California  which  ho  iinishod  about  that  time.  And 
likewise  printed  a  Geographical  Memoir  of  Upper  Cali- 
fornia, illustrativ^e  of  the  map.  This  work  gives  the 
most  compendious  view  of  the  scientific  results  of  his 
explorations,  and  on  the  whole  reflects  most  credit  upon 
liis  inductive  faculties  and  powers  of  statement.  The  want 
of  a  more  complete  record  of  his  discoveries,  in  legislat- 
ing for  our  Pacific  possessions  was  seriously  felt  by  the 
Senate,  and  they  appointed  a  select  committee  to  inquire 
into  the  expediency  of  providing  for  the  publication  of 
a  third  expedition  as  a  National  Work.  Senator 
Breese  of  Illinois,  the  chairman  of  the  committee,  made 
an  elaborate  report  in  favor  of  the  publication,  in  the 
course  of  which  he  speaks  of  the  map  and  the  Geo- 
graphical Memoir  as  follows : 

"This  map  and  memoir,  though  hastily  prepared,  and  as  a 
mere  preliminary  to  a  full  work,  increase  the  reputation  of  their 
author,  and  give  valuable  information  to  the  statesman  and  to 
the  farmer,  to  the  astronomer  and  the  geographer,  to  the  man  of 
science  in  the  -walks  of  botany  and  meteorology.  But  they 
must  be  regarded  only  as  a  sample  of  the  results  of  that  exj>edi- 
tion,  from  the  view  of  which  the  value  of  the  whole  may  be 
judged.  As  far  as  the  exploration  has  been  carried,  everything 
necessary  to  show  climate,  soil,  and  productions,  has  been  col- 
lected. More  than  one  thousand  specimens  in  botany,  a  great 
numl)er  in  geology  and  mineralogy,  with  engravings  of  birds 
and  animals,  and  remarkable  scenery,  and  a  large  collection  of 
the  skins  of  birds  with  the  plumage  preserved,  have  been,  as  the 
committee  are  informed,  brought  home  to  enrich  the  stores  and 


CONTRIBUTIONS   TO   BOTANICAL   SCIENCE. 


325 


add  to  tlie  sum  of  human  knowledge.  The  botanical  specimens 
examined  by  Dr.  Torrey  are  deemed  by  him  of  great  value  and 
worthy  of  the  expense  of  European  engraving,  if  not  done  by 
our  own  government.* 

Tlie  botanical  stores  referred  to  by  the  Senatorial 
Cominitice  were  deposited  with  Professor  Torroy,  who 
prepared  a  memoir  in  relation  to  them  for  the  Smithso- 
nian Institute,  by  whom  they  were  beautifully  engraved, 
and  published  in  1850.f  A  more  precise  idea  of  their 
value  may  be  gathered  from  the  following  passage  with 
which  Torrey  commences  his  memoir. 


DESCRIPTIONS    OF    SOME     NEW    PLANTS     COLLECTED     BY     COLONEL 
J.    C.    FREMONT    IN    CALIFORNIA. 

"The  important  services  rendered  to  science  by  that  distin- 
guislied  traveller,  Colonel  Fremont,  are  known  to  all  who  have 
read  the  reports  of  his  hazardous  journeys,  etc. 

"  He  has  not  only  made  valuable  additions  to  the  geographical 
knowledge  of  our  remote  possessions,  but  has  greatly  increased 
our  acquaintance  with  the  geology  and  natural  history  of  the 
regions  which  he  explored.  His  first  expedition  was  made  in 
the  year  1842,  and  terminated  at  the  Rocky  Mountains.  He 
examined  the  celebrated  South  Pass,  and  ascended  the  highest 
mountain  of  the  Wind  River  chain,  now  called  Fremont's  Peak. 
The  party  moved  so  rapidly  (travelling  from  the  frontier  of  Mis- 
souri to  the  mountains,  and  returning  in  the  short  space  of  four 
months)  that  much  time  could  not  be  given  to  botany.     Never- 


*  For  the  full  report  see  Appendix  A. 

j-  Plantce  Fremontiance,  or  descriptions  of  plants  collected  by  Colonel 
J.  C,  Fremont  in  California,  by  John  Torrey,  F.L.S. — Smithsonian  Con- 
irihutionn  to  Knov)hdqe. 


32G 


LIFE   AND   SERVICES   OF   .lOHN   C.    FREMONT. 


if  » 

I  :!l  4 


SJ/f 


tlioloss,  a  collection  of  iliroc  liundred  and  fifty  spocios  of  plants 
was  made,  of  wliicii  T  i^jivo  an  account  in  a  botanical  appendix 
(o  this  liist  report.  The  second  expedition  of  (Jolonel  Fremont 
was  that  of  184.*J  and  1HI4,  eMd)racin<if  not  only  much  of  th<', 
giound  of  which  he  had  previously  explored,  but  extensive 
regions  of  OrejE^on  and  California.  In  this  journey  lie  n)adc 
Iar<i;o  collections  in  places  never  before  visited  by  a  botanist; 
but  unfortunately,  a  ti^reat  portion  of  this  was  lost.  In  the 
sjforo-es  of  the  Sierra  Nevada,  a  mule  loaded  with  some  bales  of 
botanical  specimens,  gathered  in  a  thousand  miles  of  travel,  fell 
from  a  precipice  into  a  deep  chasm,  from  whence  they  could  not 
be  recovered.  A  laro-e  ))ai't  of  the  remaininnf  colhiction  was 
destroyed,  on  tlie  return  of  the  expedition,  by  the  Hood  of  the 
Kansas  Uiver.  Some  of  the  new  and  more  interesting  plants 
that  were  rescued  from  dest:  ;ction,  were  published  in  the  Hota- 
nical  Appendix  to  Colonel  Fremont's  Report  of  the  second 
expedition. 

"  Very  large  collections  were  also  made  in  his  third  expedi- 
tion in  1845,  and  the  two  following  years ;  but  again,  notwith- 
standing every  precaution,  some  valuable  packages  were  <les- 
troyed  by  the  numerous  and  unavoidable  mishaps  of  such  a 
hazardous  journey.  Veiy  few  of  the  new  genera  and  species 
that  were  saved  have  as  yet  been  publishe<l,  excepting  several  of 
the  Compositals  by  Dr.  Cray,  in  order  that  the  prioiity  of  their 
discovery  might  be  secured  by  Colonel  Fremont.  There  was 
still  another  journey  to  California  made  by  that  zealous  travel- 
ler ;  the  disastrous  one  commenced  late  in  the  year  1848.  Even 
in  this  lie  gleaned  a  few  plants,  which,  with  all  his  other  botani- 
cal collections,  he  kindly  placed  at  my  disposal.  I  had  hoped 
that  arrangements  would  have  been  made  by  the  government 
for  the  [>ublication  of  a  general  account  of  the  botany  of  Califor- 
nia, but  as  there  is  no  immediate  prospect  of  su(di  a  work  being 
undertaken,  I  have  prepared  the  memoir  on  some  of  the  more 
interesting  new  genera,  discovered  by  Colonel  Fremont.  The 
drawings  of  the  accompanying  plates  were  made  by  Mr.  Isaac 


LETTER   FROM   HUMBOLDT. 


327 


Sprau^ue  of  Cainbrldiife,  MaFsacluisetts,  who  ranks  among   the 
most  eminent  botanical  (.Iraiiglitsinen  of  our  day." 

"Wliile  ullndiii;^  to  the  cstinuito  placed  upon  the 
ficientilic  results  of  Col.  Fremont's  exj)loriition9,  by 
souie  oi  his  eniineut  contemporaries,  we  may  be  pardoned 
for  auticipatin^if  the  tributes  paid  two  years  hiter  to 
his  labors  by  Baron  Humboldt,  on  behalf  of  the  King 
of  Prussia,  and  by  the  Koyal  Geographical  Society  of 
London.  As  a  minister  of  the  Prussian  government, 
Humboldt  was  charged  to  present  Fremont  with  "the 
great  goldi'u  medal  for  progress  in  the  sciences.^''  IIo 
accompanied  the  medal  with  the  following  highly 
comi)limentary  note  to  Fremont,  in  which  a  graceful 
allusion  is  made  to  that  early  struggle  against  slavery 
witn  which  his  political  career  in  California  commenced 
and  closed. 

'■'•Monsieur  le  Scnateur* :  II  m'est  bien  doux,  Monsieur,  de 
vous  addresser  ces  lignes  par  raon  excellent  ami,  noire  rainistre 

*Fromont  had  just  been  elected  to  the  United  States  Senate,  from 
California.     The  following  is  the  English  translation  of  Baron  Humboldt's 
letter: 
"7'o  Col.  Fremont,  Senator. 

"  It  is  very  agreeable  to  me,  sir,  to  address  you  these  lines  by  my 
excellent  friend,  our  minister  to  the  United  States,  M.  de  (Icrolt.  After 
having  given  you,  in  the  new  edition  of  my  'Aspects  of  Nature,'  the 
public  testimony  of  the  admiration  which  is  dm^  to  your  gigintic  labors 
between  St.  Louis,  of  Missouri,  and  the  coasts  of  the  .South  Si  -i,  I  iccl 
happy  to  offer  you,  in  this  living  token,  {dans  ce  petit  signe  de  vie)  tho 
homage  of  my  warm  acknowledgment.  You  h.ive  displayed  a  uo!>l(' 
courage  in  distant  expeditions,  braved  all  the  dangers  of  cold  and 
famine,  enriched  all  the  branches  of  the  natural  sciences,  illustrated  a 
vast  country  which  was  almost  entirely  unknown  to  us. 

"A  merit  so  rare  has  been  acknowledged  by  a  sovereign  warmly  inte- 
rested in  the  progress  of  physical  geography;    the  king  orders  me  to 


328 


LIFE  AND   SERVICES  OF  JOHN  0.    FREMONT. 


mix  fitats-Uriis,  M.  de  Gerolt.  Apres  vous  avoir  donne  dans  la 
nouvelle  edition  de  mes  Tableaux  de  la  Nature  le  teinoirrnaore 
public  do  I'cidiniration  qui  est  due  a  vos  gigantesques  travaux 
entrc  St.  Louis  du  Missouri  et  les  cotes  de  la  nier  du  Sud,  je  mo 
sens  heureux  de  vous  otFrir,  dans  ce  petit  signe  de  vie,  I'houi- 
mage  de  ma  vlve  reconnaissance.  Vous  avez  deploye  un  noble 
courage  dans  des  expeditions  lointaines,  bravo  tout  les  dangers 
des  friinas  et  du  manque  de  nourriture,  enrichi  toutes  les  parties 
de  sciences  naturelles,  illustre  un  vaste  pays  qui  nous  dtait  pres- 
que  entierement  inconnu.  Un  merite  si  rare  a  etc  reconnu  par 
un  souverain  vivement  interessd  aux  progres  de  la  gdographie 
physique:  le  roi  m'ordonne  de  vous  otiVir  la  grande  mddaillo 
d'or,  destinue  a.  ceux  qui  ont  travailld  a  des  progres  scientifiques. 
J'espere  quo  cetto  marque  de  la  bienveiilance  royale  vous  sera 
agrcable  dans  un  moment,  ou,  sur  la  proposition  de  I'illustre 
geographe,  Charles  Ritter,  la  Societd  de  Gdographie,  residante  a 
Berlin,  vous  a  nommd  pour  membre  honoraire.  Quant  a  moi, 
je  dois  vous  remercier  particuliereiuent  aussi  de  I'honneur  quo 
vous  m'avez  fait  d'attacher  raon  nora  et  celui  de  mon  collabora- 
teur  et  ami  intime,  M.  Bonpland,  a  des  contrdes  voisines  de 
cellos  qui  ont  dtd  I'objet  de  nos  travaux.     La  Californie,  qui  a 

offer  you  the  gnind  golden  medal  destined  to  those  who  have  labored  at 
scientific  progress.  I  hope  that  this  mark  of  the  royal  good  will,  will  be 
agreeable  to  you  at  a  time  when,  upon  the  proposition  of  the  illustrious 
geographer,  Chas.  Ritter,  the  Geographical  Society  at  Berlin  has  named 
you  an  honorary  member.  For  myself,  I  must  thank  you  particularly 
also  for  the  houor  which  you  have  done  in  attaching  my  name,  and  that 
of  my  fellow-laborer  and  intimate  friend,  Mr.  bonpland,  to  countries 
neighboring  to  those  which  have  been  the  object  of  our  labors.  Califor- 
nia, which  has  so  nobly  resisted  the  introduction  of  slavery,  ivill  he  wor- 
thily represented  by  a  friend  of  liberty  and  of  the  progress  of  intelli- 
gence. 

"Accept,  I  pray  you,  sir,  the  expression  of  my  high  and  affectionate 
consideration. 

"Your  most  humble  and  most  obedient  servant, 

"A.  V.  Humboldt. 

"Sans  Sodci,  Octtober  7.  ISoO." 


w 


V-    t! 


dans  la 
oiiinacce 
travaux 
li,  je  me 
),  rhom- 
n  noble 
dannrers 
s  parlies 
Lait  pi'es- 
>nnu  par 
ographie 
inddaillo 
ntifitjiies. 
;ous  sei'a 
I'illustre 
jsidante  a 
nt  a  moi, 
ineur  que 
collabora- 
)isines  de 
nie,  qui  a 

labored  at 
vill,  will  be 
!  illustrious 
has  named 
articularly 
,  and  that 
countries 
Call  for- 
vill  be  wor- 
of  intdli- 

ifFectionate 


lUMDOLDT. 


LONDON    (iKOGKAlMllCAI-    SoCIKTV. 


329 


noblement  rdsistt^  a  I'introduction  de  resclavaore,  sera  disfnement 
representde  par  ua  ami  de  la  liberie  el  des  progrea  de  I'inlelli- 
gence. 

"Agrdez,  je  vous  prie,  Monsieur  le  Sdnateur,  rexpreasion  de 
ma  haute  et  affectueuse  considdralion. 

*'  Votre  tres  humble  et  tres  obdissant  serviteur, 

"A.V.Humboldt. 

"  A  Saks  Souci,  le  7  Octobre,  1850." 

Oq  the  envelope  thus  addressed : 

"A  Monsieur  le  Colonel  Frdmont,  Senateur, 
"Avec  la  grande  mddaille  d'or,* 
"Pour  les  progres  dans  les  sciences. 

"Baron  Humboldt." 

From  the  Royal  Geographical  Society  Col.  Fremont 
received  the  Founder's  medal.  It  was  transmitted  to 
him  through  Abbot  Lawrence,  then  our  minister  to 
England,  and  John  M.  Clayton,  Secretary  of  State,  who 
accompanied  it  with  the  following  letter  and  its  enclo- 
sure. 

LETTER  FROM  THE    SECRETARY    OF    STATE    TO    COLONEL    FREMONT.| 

Dhpartment  op  State,  Washington,  June  15.'A,  1850. 

"  My  Dear  Sir  :  I  have  the  honor  to  enclose  herewith,  an 

extract  from  a  dispatch  received  at  this  Department  yesterday, 

from  the  Hon.  Abbott  Lawrence,  our  Minister  in  London,  from 

which  you  will  perceive  that  the  Royal  Geographical  Society 

*  The  medal  is  of  fine  gold,  massive,  more  than  double  the  size  of  the 
American  double  eagle,  and  of  exquisite  workmanship.  On  the  face  is 
tlie  medallion  Jiead  of  the  king,  Frederic  William  the  Fourth,  surrounded 
by  figures  emblematical  of  Religion,  Jurisprudence,  Medicine  and  the 
Arts.  On  the  reverse,  Apollo,  in  the  chariot  of  the  sun,  drawn  by  four 
higli  mettled  plunging  horses,  traversing  the  zodiac,  and  darting  rays  of 
hght  from  his  head. 

f  national  Intelligencer^  June  8th,  1850. 


If. 


il' 


'M 


f 


IS.  _ 

'V  I! 


^■- 


330 


LIFIC    AND   SKRVICK8    OV  JOHN    C.    FKIiMoNT. 


l»as  awarded  you  tlie  "Founder's  Medal,"  for  the  distinguished 
services  which  you  liuve  rendered  to  geoi^rapliical  scnence. 

"  The  niesserger  who  bears  you  this  letter,  will  also  deliver 
you  the  medal.  It  atibrds  nio  pleasure  to  bo  the  iniinediato 
instrument  in  convi^ying  to  you  this  high  tribute  of  respe(;t,  so 
well  earned  by  the  valuable  and  distins2;uished  services  which 
you  have  renderetl,  not  oidy  to  your  own  country,  but  to  the 
whoh"  ,s('i''!iti(ic  .VDi'M. 

"  1  am,  sir,  very  sincerely  and  truly  yours, 

"  J.  M.  Clayton." 

"  Hon.  J.  C.  FllKMONT." 


LETTKR     FIlOM     THE     UNITED     SI'ATKS     MINISTER     AT     LONDON,     TO 

COLONEL     EUEMONT. 

"  London,  Miy  SUt,  1850. 

"Dear  Sir:  On  the  27th  inst.,  I  had  the  honor  to  receive 
from  the  President  of  the  Royal  Geographical  Society  the 
Founder's  Medal,  whicli  was  awarded  to  you  by  the  council  of 
that  society,  for  your  pree'minent  services  in  promoting  the  cause 
of  geographical  science.  The  meeting  was  public,  and  the 
reasons  for  according  the  medal  to  you  were  set  forth  with 
ability  by  the  Piesident.  It  became  my  duty  to  reply  on  your 
behalf,  which  I  did  very  brielly.  The  proceedings  of  the  meet- 
ing will  be  published  at  an  early  day,  when  I  shall  transmit  a 
copy  to  you.  I  assure  you  that  I  feel  a  proud  satisfaction  in 
li.iving  the  opportunity  of  being  present  at  the  Annual  Meeting 
of  the  Society,  and  receiving  this  complimentary  testimonial  of 
merit  to  a  citizen  of  the  United  States,  who  has  done  so  much 
n»iL  c.ii!_\  ::.  'In-  •;i!i-i*  ot'  science,  but  in  every  department  of 
<luty  to  which  he  has  been  called  to  promote  the  honor  of  his 
«;ouiitry. 

"  It  is  my  fervent  hope  that  your  life  may  be  long  spared  to 
enjoy  your  well  earned  fame  in  sr.ieiice,  and  that  your  success  in 
your  new  and   high  position  may  be  commensurate  with    the 


LONDON   GEOGIiAl'IIICAL   SOCIETY. 


331 


^uislied 

deliver 
inediiito 
^pc(;t,  so 
s  whicli 
t  to  the 

kTTON." 


DDK,     TO 


31««,  1850. 

o  receive 

[ciety  the 

ouiicil  of 

the  cause 

and  the 
orth  with 
J  on  your 
he  meet- 
Iransniit  a 
Ifactiou  in 

1  Meetinji; 
linonial  of 
3  so  much 

tiiieut  of 

lor  of  his 

spared  to 

Isucc.ess  in 
wiili    the 


name  and   f;inio  acquired  hy  arduous  hih'^r  in   yonr  liriff  lujt 

brilliant  cart'cr. 

"  1  am  dear  sir  most  faithfully, 

"  Your  ob(!(lient  servant, 

"  AiiuoTT  Lawkence." 
"To  CoL  John  Charles  Fkemont, <fec., 

"  Washington,  IX  C." 

Rlil'LV    OF    THK     UNIT!'"    ?',  ATES    MINISTEIl    TO     THE     ADDRESS    OF 
THE  SOCIETY  IN   I'RESENTINO    THE   MEDAL. 

"Mr.  Tresident:  It  is  with  great  pride  and  satisfaction  that 
I  am  hero  to  receive  from  your  hands  the  medal  awardeij  by 
the  (Council  of  the  lloyal  (jcographieal  Society  to  Col.  Fremont. 
In  his  bel;alf  I  thank  vou,  and  the  gentlemen  of  the  Council  and 
the  Society,  for  an  honor  which  I  am  sure  lie  will  aj)preciate  as 
one  of  the  most  distinguished  that  has  been  conferred  upon  him 
in  his  brilliant  career. 

"The  testimonial  could  not  have  been  given  to  a  more 
deserving  individual.  Col.  Fremont  possesses,  in  an  eminent 
degree,  the  elements  of  a  just  success,  lie  has  ability,  per- 
severance, cultivation  and  industry,  and  above  all,  he  is  endowed 
wit II  bio'li  ni'irMl  Mltri'mti'S  which  have  won  for  him  the  esteem 
of  those  more  iinni'di.'iti'iy  ('onnectcd  with  him,  and  the  con- 
fidciire  of  his  fellow  citizens  in  the  country  at  large,  w!io  will 
see  wiih  pleasure  this  day's  evidence  of  your  correct  appreciation 
of  his  services  to  science. 

"But  I  look  upon  this  award  of  your  Council  as  something 
more  than  a  tribute  to  individual  worth.  I  esteem  it  as  a 
national  honor;  and,  as  the  representative  of  the  Unit(id  States, 
I  otier  you  their  and  my  grateful  thanks.  It  is  not  the  least  of 
the  charms  of  science  that  it  is  not  boundeil  bv  the  limits  of 
nations.  Its  influence  is  as  wide  as  the  world,  and  new  dis- 
coveries, whether  in  the  field  of  geographical  or  other  science, 
are  the  common  property  of  mankind.     Scientific  men  form  a 


I 


;  II 


I*       Hi,. 


! 


! 


332 


LIFE   AND   SERVICES   OF  JOHN   C.    FREMONT. 


L 


ii 


ii 


!'    i 


common  brotherliood  tlirouijliout  all  nations,  and  the  liarmony 
of  feelinir  between  tlioin  has  done  nuicli,  and  is  destined  ;o  do 
yet  more  towards  establishing  and  maintaining  the  peauo  of  the 
world. 

"  The  Now  lias  incurred  a  great  debt  to  the  Old  World,  and 
particularly  to  Great  Britain,  for  scientific  knowledge.  This 
tlM?y  hope  to  repay  in  some  measure  at  no  very  distant  day. 
We  have  made  rapid  strides  in  the  Union  within  a  few  years, 
and  confidtMitly  hope  soon  to  contribute  our  quota  to  the  common 
stock.  Our  desire,  Mr.  President  and  gentlemen,  is  })ersever- 
ingly  to  maintain  with  you  n  friendly  competition,  having  for 
its  object  the  advancement  of  civilization,  and  the  elevation  of 
the  condition  of  man  throughout  the  world.  And  wo  fervently 
liope  that  nothing  will  recur  to  prevent  thic,  either  by  the  dis- 
turbance of  the  peace  now  happily  existing  between  the  nations 
of  Europe,  or  the  cessation  of  the  very  friendly  feeling  between 
this  country  and  the  United  States  of  America." 


LETTER  FROM   COL.   FREMONT    TO   THE    PRESIDENT   OF    THE    ROYAL 

GEOGRAPHICAL    SOCIETY. 

W.\s]iix(;ti)N  Citt,  June  22d,  1850. 

"Sir:  I  have  had  the  gratification  to  receive,  tlirouirh  the 
hands  of  the  American  minister  and  the  Secretary  of  St;ito,  the 
lionorable  medal  with  which  the  Geographical  Society  h;is 
distinufuished  me. 

"In  making  my  acknowledgments  for  this  high  testimonial 
of  approbation,  I  feel  it  a  particular  pleasure  that  thev  aro 
rendered  to  a  society  which  I  am  happy  to  recognize  as  my 
alma  mater,  to  the  notice  of  whose  eminent  members  I  am 
already  indebted  for  much  gratification,  and  in  whose  occasional 
approval  I  have  found  a  reason  and  a  stimulus  for  continued 
exertion.  I  deem  mvself  hio^hly  honored  in  kavinsx  been  con- 
sidered  a  subject  for  the  exercise  of  a  national  courtesy,  and  in 


LONDON   GEOGRAPHICAL   SOCIETr. 


333 


beinof  made  one  of  the  thousand  links  among  the  associations  and 
cordial  sympfUhies  which  unite  our  kindred  nations. 
"  With  feelings  of  high  respect  and  regard  for  yourself, 
"lam,  sir,  very  respectfully, 

"  Your  obedient  servant, 

"  J.  C.  FUEMONT." 

"  To  Sir  Roderick  Murchison, 

"  President  of  the  Royal  Geographical  Society, 

"  London." 


HE    ROYAL 


'HI 


j  If 


334 


MFK  AND  8EUVICK8  OP  JOHN   C.   FREMONT. 


li' 


I 


CUAPTEU  xir. 

CORKKSrONDKNCK    IJETWICKN    COT,.     FREMONT    ANi^     CAPTAIN 

ClIAKLKd    Wir-KES. 

WiiiLK  preparing  liis  map  and  Gcogra])hical  Memoir 
for  })ul)lication,  and  a  few  dayn  hctbro  its  C()mi)letion, 
Col.  Fremont  became  accidentally  involved  in  a  pnblic 
diticussion  \vitli  Capt.  Wilkes,  of  the  navy,  which  pos- 
sesses an  interest  now  quite  independent  of  tlic  little 
incident  out  of  which  it  originated.  Tliat  incident  in 
stated  in  the  following  note  addressed  to  the  Editors"  of 
the  National  Intelliyencer : 

LETTER    FROM   COL.    BENTON.* 

•'  0  STttEiT,  May  14, 1848. 

"  Gextlemex  :  Wo  read  in  tbo  I^ational  Intelligencer  for 
May  9,  as  follows  : 

''*The  United  States  sloop  of  ./ar  rortsmouth,  Commander 
Montcjomery,  arrived  in  Boston,  on  Friday,  from  the  racilic 
Ocean. 

"  '  Commander  Montgomery  states  that  the  13ritish  frioate 
Herald,  and  the  brig  Pandora,  are  engaged  in  making  a  new 
survey  of  the  gulf  and  coast  of  California. 

"  '  Tlie  whale-ship  Hope,  of  Providence  (R.  I.),  was  recently 
lost  on  the  coast  in  consequence  of  an  error  in  the  charts  now  in 
general  nse,  which  locate  the  coast  and  islands  from  Monterey  to 

*  Sco  "  National  Intelligencer,"  May  15,  1848. 


.    i 


m 


C0RKE8P0NDKNCK   WITFI   0 ATTAIN   WILKK8. 


335 


Al'TAIN 


Tciiioir 
)lction, 
public 
;h  pos- 
0  little 
ilciit  irt 
tors' of 


14, 1818. 

ncer  for 

mandor 
racilic 

tVijvato 
;  a  new 

recently 
now  in 
terey  to 


Capo  San  Lucas,  from  fifteen  to  forty  miles  too  far  to  the  cast- 
wan  1.' 

"On  readincf  tliis  notice  in  your  paper,  1  liavo  to  say  that  tlin 
error  in  question  lias  ah'eady  hcen  (hitecled  by  Mr.  Fremont 
and  corrected  in  his  map  of  Oregon  and  Upper  California,  now 
ill  course  of  preparation,  and  nearly  rca<ly  to  bo  laid  beforf* 
the  Senate,  by  whom  its  ('on8tru(!tion  was  ordered.  In  his  last 
expedition,  Mr.  Fremont  made  a  series  of  astronomical  observa- 
tions across  the  continent,  termitiatinjj  at  Santa  Cruz,  near  Amio 
Nuevo,  tho  northwestern  point  of  tho  liay  of  Monterey. 
It  was  found,  on  laying  down  these  positions  on  his  map,  that 
tlio  west  end  of  the  line  went  beyond  the  coast,  as  given  in  Van- 
couver's charts  (tho  basis  of  all  in  use),  and  that  it  projected 
two  miles  into  tho  sea.  His  own  map  was  immediately  corrected 
accordingly,  placing  the  coast  and  islands  of  Upper  California 
ten  miles  further  west. 

"Mr.  Fremont's  observations  wore  made  in  tlio  winter  and 
spring  of  1845  and  184G.  They  were  calculated  by  Professor 
Hubbard,  of  tho  Washington  City  Observatory,  during  the  past 
winter ;  and  were  laid  down  on  the  map  by  Mr.  Chas.  I'rcuss,  in 
February  last. 

"  This  map,  with  a  memoir  to  illustrate  it,  and  the  calculations 
of  Prof.  Hubbard,  will  be  laid  before  the  Senate  in  a  few  days. 

"Respectfully,  gentlemen,  your  obedient  servant, 

"Thomas  U.  Bicntox. 

To  this  note  there  shortly  appeared  the  following 
reply : 

LETTER   FROM   CAPTAIN   WILKES.* 

"  Messrs.  Gales  &  Seaton  :  On  my  return  to  the  city 
after  a  few  weeks'  absence,  your  paper  of  the  loth  of  May,  con- 
tainiiifr  some  remarks  on  the  errors  existing  in  the  charts  of  the 
northwest  coast  of  California,  by  Col.  Benton,  was  brought  to 
my  notice.     Although  I  have  no  desire  to  detract  from  any  one, 

*  "  National  IntelligOMCor,"  .Tvino  8,  18-48. 


r^n{\ 


l.nrK    AND    PlUVK^rs    «)K   .lOMN    ('.    KlliaiONT. 


i: 


yd  I  tliitik  i(  tlu(>  (o  olliors,  ns  woll  as  (o  (Iio  Utiilod  SImIoh 
l'".\j>loriii>;  l'A]>('(Iili(Mi,  1<>  |>Im('<'  (Ii(>  I\)! lowing;  I'/icls  lii'lorc  tlic 
)>uli|i<'  icspoi'iiiinf  llio  errors  wliicli  <//(/  r.risf  iu  (lio  lom^itudo  oT 
tlii.s  co.Msl,  llio  '  (fi.srorryi/  ^  of  wliicli  in  now  ('l,-iiiii(<(l  to  li.'tv««  Iicimi 
liist  iiiadt',  ;in«l  (h<<  (Mtois  (•orrocl<>»l,  by  <'ol.  I'Vonuml,  lliroti^li  n 
MM'ics  of  a-^lroiiomiral  oliscrvatioiis  acro'^s  {ho  contiiKMil. 

"SlioriU  allcr  tlio  |Mil»Iicaf i(>ii  of  Vaiicoiivci's  cliails  in  iVltH, 
errors  \viMv>  siispcilcd  lo  (<\isl  in  iImmm  '^liis  points  wcro  deler 
>nin(>(l  l>v  Innar  ohsorvalioiis,  and  s<>v<>ral  olnononiclorH,  \vlii<'Ii 
lathM'  jHMlornied  l'u(  indill'ortMillv  ;  and  iVoni  llios<>  liis  resulln 
\V(Mi<  o!>iain«>d),  iVoni  a  (liMoroiico  wliidi  \vas  found  ltolW(>('n  liini 
and  tin'  Spanish  snrvevins^  vt'ssols,  (>nipIoy(>d  at,  llio  same  time 
on  llie  fO;tst  of  (\ili(ornia.  Tin*  anionnt  of  error  was  nt»l,  how- 
ever, trnlv  ascertained  until  sonu^  years  after  this,  wIkmi  Captain 
l^'echey.  of  H.  ]\  M.  ship,  the  Hlossoni,  visited  tliis  coast,  in 
IS'J().  His  oliscMvalions  wi're  contirnied  hy  Captain  Sir  l^^dward 
l>clilier,  in  11.  \\  M.  snrveyinjj  ship,  the  Sulphur,  in  18.15;  and 
il  was  a^ain  contirnied  hy  the  Tnitt'd  States  Kx[»loring  i^xpedi 
titMi  in  ISl  1 . 

"Tliese  corrections  were  all  made  on  the  jxenorftl  charts  pub- 
lished bv  ord(>r  of  Con^-ress  in  IS  14,  iVom  the  surveys  and 
('viniinaiions  of  {ho  MxploriuLj  I'^xpedition,  and  have  been  in 
possessii>n  of  our  sliips  navigatiui;;  the  raciHc  Ocean  siiico  that, 
time. 

"  l>y  coniparinix  dates,  it  will  be  jter<'eived  that  these  'dis- 
coveries' were  known  long  since,  and  that  the  actual  amount  »\f 
error  was  ascertained  some  twont  ,•  years  ago  by  both  the  English 
and  French  expeditions,  and  W'.  e  jMiblished  by  our  own  govern- 
ment in  the  results  of  the  l^xploring  Expedition,  a  year  prior  to 
the  earliest  date  claimed  bv  Col.  l>cnton,  as  the  time  when  the 
observations  of  Lieut.  Col.  Fremont  were  made. 

'*  With  great   respect,  1  am,  yours,  ifcc, 


CUAUI.KS 


W 


ILKES 


W.jDhifiafoii,  ,hni<-  (\th,  \8tS. 


Thi-*  lotttM  was  ;u'oonip;uiioil  with  the  lolluwiug  editorial  note 


In  .1    in.iihM- 


pv. 


1\  sritMititii',  (lilVoronce   of  opinion   eannot   li 


.U\ 


rill 


OOKKEBrONDENCR   WITH    CAPTAIN    WILKM. 


.1  Slf\tos 
•loit'  tin' 
riiuilt^  of 

i;iV(»  lit'OII 

|ii(Mij;;li  M 

,  in   IV Its. 
<ii>  «l«'l<'r 
rs,  wliifli 
lis  rosullH 
w«H>n  Inin 
sMiiic  liino 
,  nol,  liow- 
>n  ('.'(ptaiii 
is  coast   it» 
>ir  Kdw.'inl 
IH.15;  and 
ng  Kxpedi- 

■hiirts  \n\h- 

iirvovR  ."tiiil 

•0.   boon    in 

since  that 

lllu'so  '  dis- 
junount  at' 

Ithe  Ensli^li 

|\vu  govorn- 

jar  prior  to 

|o  whon  tho 


WlI.KES 


TIiIh  liM.lor  broii^rlit,  (jol.  Frenioiii  iiilo  tlio  iic.ld,  wliu 
coiuIucIimI  IIio  nuriaiiidiU'  ol'  l,li(3  C()riCH[>uii(leu(U3  with 
Cjij)l.  VVilkcB  lo  its  cloae. 

LfiTTKR    FUOM    COF,.    FRICMONT    TO    TMK    KUITOUR.* 

Wahiiinoton,  ./i/fM  ''^A,  1848. 

"  Mkhhiih.  (Jai.fih  anhSkaton  :  Tii  {ho.  ;il»s(!iic(i  (»('(!(»l.  I'Mitilon, 
and  as  tlio  niaUor  rclaUvs  spc<;ially  to  inyKcir,  I  doKiro  to  tako 
Hoiuo  iiotic<^  ol'tlu^  pnldicatioti  iiiado  in  your  j»a|)«!i'  of  to-day  by 
(y.'iptain  Wilk<i.s  of  tim  navy,  conc/Crniii^  tlio  iiictificatioii  of  an 
error  on  our  wcstnrn  coast. 

'M'a)»t.  Wilkes  rould  tiot  liavo  oxaiiiinod  with  mncli  earn  tlio 
tioto  of  (Vij.  Hcnion,  which  ho  nndrrtaivcs  to  oriticiso,  or  ho 
would  hav(5  porccivod  Ihat  it  is  not  ai^ainst  anything  stated  l)y 
('()!.  I'kmiIoii,  or  rl.ainicMl  for  thoohHcrv.'ilioiis  triado  by  myself,  that 
his  HlrirtnroM  .•i|'|>ly  :  i»nt  that  his  solo  disput.o,  if  ho  has  any,  in 
widi  (Iki  reports  brought  in  by  the  slooj)  of  war  I'ortsniouMi, 
(Joinn)andei'  Nbmlt^onKMy,  an«l  only  <)iiote,d  in  Iho  nolo  of  (Jol. 
|{enl()n.  Ho  must  also  havo  porceived,  with  a  little,  more,  atten- 
lention,  Ihat  the  word  '  dise,ov<!ry,'  which  h(j  has  iiilrodue,e,d  as 
a  <jnolalion  ilaliciz<^d,  do(!s  not  exist  in  ( 'ol.  l»enton's  riot<; :  and 
henco  (hat  his  nso  of  IIhi  word,  as  if  copifid  from  <  !ol.  l»e,nt,otrH 
note,  is,  in  both  instances  nnwarran(e(|. 

"Tlio  |)lain  facts  in  tho  matter  in  <jnest.ion  aro  ihes(i :  in  my 
map  published  in  1845,  accom|>aiiyins:^  tiie,  report  of  the,  first,  ari<l 
second  expoditiona  undor  my  command,  tho  lino  of  tho  Pacific 

causo  of  quarrel,  nor  oven  of  luikind  feeling.  We  puhlisti  Capt.  Wilkes's 
note  as  we  did  Mr.  iJentou's,  without  reciiiiring  any  other  authority  tiiau 
the  name  of  the  writer. 

"  We  cannot  however,  repress  the  obviou.s  remark,  that,  &n  Col.  Fre- 
mont was  not  in  possession  of  the  corrected  charts  S[)oken  of  by  Captain 
Wilkes,  he  is  still  eiilitled  to  the  merit  of  having,  hy  means  of  his  astro- 
nomical observations,  discovered  the  error,  though  others  alwo  had  dis- 
covered the  same  error." 

•"National  Tntplligoncpr,"  June  10th,  IstS. 


I 


^t 


note 


lnn( 


)t  b 


.u\ 


I 


r:'^ 


W- 


(t; 


n 


V:i 


III! 


338 


LIFE   AND   SERVICES   OF  JOHN   C. 


FKEMONT. 

• 


coast  was  laid  down  (and  so  stated)  according  to  the  survey  of 
Vancouver.  It  was  introduced  inenily  to  give  a  necessary  com- 
pleteness to  the  map  of  my  recoiinoissance,  and  without  any 
attempt  at  a  rectitication  of  errors,  which  I  supposed  to  come 
properly  within  the  ])rovince  of  the  naval  exploring  expedition 
which  had  re-.-ently  surveyed  the  coast. 

"  In  a  recent  expedition,  having  reference  particularly  to  the 
geography  on  the  l*acitic  coast,  I  was  enabled  to  make  'a  series 
of  observations '  in  that  countiy,  depending  on  two  main  posi- 
tions in  the  Sacramento  valley,  established  by  lunar  culminations. 
These  observations  were  made  in  1845  and  184G  ;  tiiey  were  cal- 
culated during*  the  last  winter  bv  l*rofessor  Ilubbai'd  of  the  Wash- 
ington  Observatory.  On  laying  down  the  positions  thus  ascer- 
tained on  the  map,  they  were  found  not  to  correspond  with  the 
coast  line,  as  before  projected.  I  was  aware  that  there  had 
been  various  surveys  of  the  coast,  and  discrepancies  between  the 
observations  of  the  diti'-rent  navigators  there.  My  observations 
agreed  nearly  with  those  of  Capt.  Ik'echey,  and  1  immediately 
wrote  to  the  city  of  New  York,  to  procure,  if  any  such  had  been 
published,  a  chart  of  the  coast,  founded  on  the  surveys  of  either 
Beechey  or  Belcher ;  but  was  informed  that  there  was  nothing 
of  the  kind  known  there. 

"This  being  the  case,  I  caused  the  line  to  be  erased,  and  pro- 
jected further  west,  in  conformity  with  my  own  observations. 
The  fact  of  this  alteration  was  confined  to  myself  and  to  Mr. 
Preuss,  who  was  engaged  in  drafting  the  map,  and  was  not 
intended  to  be  brought  to  the  public  nouce  in  any  more  promi- 
nent way  than  by  the  publication  of  the  map  and  observations, 
to  go  for  what  they  are  worth,  whether  by  themselves  or  in  com- 
]iarison.  In  the  beginning  of  May,  however,  the  arrival  of  the 
s'ioop  of  war  Portsmouth,  Commander  Montgomery,  from  the 
J'acific  Ocean,  was  announced,  with  the  information,  brought  by 
her,  that  the  whale-ship  Hope  had  lately  been  lost  on  that  coast. 
in  consequence  of  this  same  error  titill  existing  '  on  the  (diuris  in 
common  use.'     In  connec-lion  with  this,  it  was  also  stated  that 


CORRESPONDENCE  WITH  CAPTAIN  WILKES. 


339 


vey  of 
y  coui- 
it  any 
J  come 
cditioa 

'  to  the 
a  series 
in  posi- 
nalions. 
tore  ("il- 
3  Wash- 
is  ascer- 
with  tlie 
are   had 
veen  the 
ii'vations 
lediatelv 
i;id  been 
of  either 
nothing 

md  pro- 
Irvations. 
to  Mr. 

Iwas  not 
protni- 
|rvalions, 
in  Corn- 
ell of  the 
•om   the 
night  by 
liiit  coast 
iharts  ill 
ited  that 


two  British  naval  vessels  were  engaged  in  a  new  survey  of  the 
coast.  The  correction  made  in  my  map  (then  nearly  completed, 
and  since  laid  before  the  Senate)  was  then  mentioned,  and  it 
was  thought  proper,  for  public  information,  to  make  a  statement 
of  the  fact  of  the  correction,  which  was  accordingly  done  in  the 
note  of  Colonel  Benton,  certainly  without  the  intent  to  detract 
from  the  labors  of  Captain  Wilkes,  or  any  one  else,  or  to  offer  a 
rem;  k  that  could  have  that  effect.  I  had  had  the  good  fortune 
to  find  my  observations  in  the  Sacramento  valley  agree  with 
those  made  in  the  same  valley  by  Captain  Belcher,  but  they 
differed  with  Captain  Wilkes  by  about  a  third  of  a  degree  of 
longitude.  These  recurring  discrepancies  presented  an  addi- 
tional reason,  as  I  judged,  at  a  moment,  when  a  new  survey  by 
foreign  authority  was  going  on,  for  a  public  notice  being  made 
of  my  observations,  which  I  conceived  I  had  a  right  to  give  with 
the  rest,  to  be  taken  at  their  value. 

"The  purpose  of  Captain  Wilkes's  note,  as  I  understand  it,  is 
to  show  that  the  error  in  the  geography  of  the  coast  was  known 
years  ago,  and  is  corrected  on  the  charts  published  in  1844,  by 
the  exploration  expedition  under  his  command,  and  'in  the  pos- 
session of  our  ships  navigating  the  Pacific  Ocean,  since  that 
time.'  This  being  admitted,  it  only  brings  Captain  AVilkes  in 
conflict  with  the  information  given  to  the  press  by  the  officer  of 
the  sloop  Portsmouth,  as  this  was  the  whole  authority  on  which 
it  was  supposed  that  the  '  charts  in  common  use '  were  errone- 
ously projected,  and  that  a  note  of  correction  of  the  error  might 
be  of  interest  and  importance. 

"  It  does  not  appear,  however,  why  Captain  Wilkes  should 
have  felt  called  upon  to  open  a  controversy  on  this  matter  \n 
any  shape.  Certainl}'',  whatever  mei'it  the  exploring  expedition 
which  he  comm mded  may  have  entitled  itself  to  in  the  publica- 
tion of  corrections,  it  cannot  claim  any  share  in  the  making  of 
them  u]>on  the  coast  in  question  (that  of  Upper  Culifurnia).  Tn 
his  card  of  to-dav,  Captain  Wilkes  refers  to  and  professe>;  to  ha\o 
airreed  with   the  observations  of  Sir  Edward  Belcher.     But  in 


' 


% 


\ 


ia 


u 


3i0 


LTFH    AND    8KRVICES   OF   JOHN   0.    FREMONT. 


ii' 


point  of  fact,  tlie  discrepancy  between  the  positions  of  Captain 
lic'Iclior  and  of  Captain  Wilkes  is  so  great,  as  to  have  left  the 
true  geography  of  the  coast  more  unsettled  than  before.  Capt. 
Belcher's  observations,  like  those  of  Capt.  Wilkes,  were  extended 
into  the  Sacramento  valley.  Point  Victoria,  at  the  junction  of 
Feather  River  with  the  Sacramento,  is  placed  by  Capt.  Belcher  in 
longitude  121°  35'  35"  (Belcher,  vol.  1,  p.  121)  ;  as  laid  down 
by  Captain  Wilkes  in  his  map,  the  same  spot  is  about  30'  or  half 
a  degree  further  west ;  so  that  Captain  Wilkes  must  say  either 
that  he  is  himself  wrong  by  half  a  degree,  or  that  Capt.  Belcher 
is.  This  is  a  large  error  to  make  in  the  position  of  a  navigable 
river,  within  two  degrees  of  the  coast  parallel  to  it,  affecting  ihe 
position  of  the  whole  valley,  five  hundred  miles  in  length,  at  the 
foot  of  the  Sierra  Nevada  ;  and  necessarily  impairs  confidence  in 
the  j)osition  of  the  coast  itself,  with  which  it  is  connected. 

"  Previous  to  the  publication  of  my  map  in  1845,  Capt.  Wilkes 
was  good  enough  to  furnish  me  with  the  position  established  by 
himself  at  New  Helvetia,  as  is  acknowledged  in  my  report  of 
that  date,  and  laid  down  upon  the  map  then  published.  The 
results  of  my  own  observations,  made  during  a  recent  journey  to 
California,  compelled  me  materially  to  change  this  position,  remov- 
ing it  twenty  miles,  to  the  eastward.  The  observations  connected 
with  these  at  this  point,  extended  through  the  Sacramento  and  San 
Joaquim  valleys,  which,  with  the  dependent  country,  are  accord- 
ingly placed  upon  the  present  map  twenty  miles  further  east. 
As  already  said,  these  positions  agreed  with  Capt.  Belcher,  and, 
being  thus  supported  by  his  authority,  and  aware  that  my  obser- 
vations did  not  agree  with  those  of  Capt,  Wilkes,  I  did  not  fur- 
ther consult  his  maps  or  charts.  I  find  to-day,  however,  by  his 
map  of  Upper  California,  accompanying  the  fifth  volume  of  his 
Narrative,  that  he  has  laid  down  the  whole  extent  of  the  Sacra- 
mento River  more  westerly  than  the  longitude  in  which  he  had 
placed  New  Helvetia,  and  diftering  consequently,  by  half  of  a 
degree  from  Capt.  Belcher,  whom  he  professes  to  concur  with 
con'oborate. 


aiiii 


.,'  i 


CORRESPONDENCE  WITH  CAPTAIN    WILKES. 


341 


ii 


Captain 
left  the 
,     Capt. 
ixtended 
ction  of 
elcher  in 
\d  down 
)'  or  half 
ly  either 
Belcher 
lavigable 
eting  the 
h,  at  the 
idence  in 
d. 

t.  Wilkes 
jished  by- 
report  of 
ed.     The 
3urney  to 
,  remov- 
;onnected 
0  and  San 
e  accord- 
ler  east, 
ler,  and, 
my  obser- 
d  not  fur- 
er,  by  his 
me  of  his 
:he  Sacra- 
ih  he  had 
half  of  a 
Qcur  with 


"It  is  true  that  the  line  of  the  coast  appears  to  have  been  laid 
down  by  Capt.  Wilkes  in  the  positions  which  the  observations 
of  Capt.  Beechey  and  Capt.  Belcher  would  assign  to  it.  liut  it 
is  very  strange  that,  if  he  agreed  with  those  officers  so  exa(;tly 
on  the  coast,  he  should,  in  the  extension  of  liis  surveys  through 
the  short  space  of  a  degree,  differ  with  them  by  half  a  degree  of 
longitude.  Had  Capt.  Wilkes  referred  the  coast,  by  the  true 
diflFerence  in  longitude,  to  his  observations  in  the  Sacramento 
valley,  it  would  have  been  thrown  as  much  too  far  west  as  Van- 
couver had  placed  it  too  far  east.  It  would  seem,  then,  that 
Capt.  Wilkes's  observations  do  not  forma  connected  'series' 
which  depend  on  each  other,  and  that  they  do  not  corroborate 
or  confirm  previous  surveys,  except  insomuch  as  they  copy 
them. 

"  I  infer  from  Capt.  Wilkes's  card,  that  neither  Capt.  Bee- 
chey nor  Capt.  Belcher's  surveys  caused  the  proper  corrections 
to  be  made  in  the  charts  of  the  coasts,  and  that  his  publications 
of  1844  were  the  first  to  give  the  benefit  of  those  older  surveys 
to  the  seamen  of  the  Pacific.  In  that  case  the  cause  must  have 
been  that  the  true  position  of  the  coast  was  considered  still  un- 
certain at  the  hydrographic  office  in  London  :  and  this  is  the 
more  probable  from  the  fact  that  a  new  survey  was  being  made 
last  November.  That  Capt.  Wilkes  added  anything  he  does  not 
pretend,  and  that  our  seamen  need  something  more  accMirate 
than  they  have,  is  shown  by  the  recent  fate  of  the  ship  Hope, 
and  the  report  of  her  loss  brought  in  by  a  naval  vessel,  whose 
officers  may  be  supposed  to  know  what  are  the  charts  most  in 
use  and  most  authentic. 

"  In  conclusion,  I  wouy  state,  that  the  observations  which  I 
have  made,  and  on  which  the  positions  I  have  adopted  depend, 
will  be  published,  in  connection  with  a  geographical  memoir  of 
California,  laid  before  the  Senate  a  few  days  ago ;  and  since 
Capt.  Wilkes  has  thought  proper  to  raise  a  coLtioversy  with  me, 
1  hope  he  will  see  the  propriety  of  also  publishing  the  observa- 
tions, which,  with  his  large  equipment  of  instruments,  he  was  so 


I 


t 


\l 


i 
I 


LETTER   FROM    CAPTAIN    WILKES   TO    THE    EDITORS.* 


"  Gentlemen  :  AVith  much  pleasure  I  avail  myself  of  the  call 
of  Lieut.  Col.  Fremont  to  give  the  public  the  required  information 
in  relation  to  the  observations  made  by  the  Exploration  Expedi- 
tion on  the  const  of  California.  It  has  been  mv  constant  <lesi-re 
to  publish  the  astronomical  and  hydrographical  results  ever  since 
the  return  of  the  Exploration  Expedition,  but  from  circumstances 
beyond  my  control  the  publication  has  been  and  will  be  delayed 
for  some  time. 

*'  As  Lieut.  Co!.  Fremont  wishes  the  public  to  know  why  I  con- 
troverted the  first  detection  of  the  trror  in  the  lonnfitude  of  the 
coast  of  California,  I  will  state  that  it  arose  from  my  desire  to  do 
justice  to  others  and  ourselves  on  an  interesting  point  of  geogra- 
phical history,  deemed  of  such  high  importance  by  Col.  Benton 
as  to  cause  him  to  claim,  through  the  columns  of  your  journal, 
that  the  merit  of  its  detection  was  due  to  the  labors  of  Col. 
Fremont,  and  also  from  a  sense  of  duty  to  the  public  to  state 
what  I  knew  had  been  previously  done  by  others  and  ourselves. 
I  am  well  satisfied  the  public  will  deem  me  justified  in  doing  so, 
without  impugning  my  motives. 

'*  With  reference  to  the  lono-itudes  on  the  northwest  coast 
determined  by  the  Exploring  Expedition,  the  limits  of  your 
whole  paper  would  not  more  than  suffice  to  give  the  details,  I  shall 
therefore  content  myself  with  giving  a  general  outline  of  the 
manner  in  which  the  duty  was  performed,  so  as  to  be  intelligible 
to  every  one,  and  refer  to  the  actual  results  when  they  are 
published. 

"  Two  observations   were   established,   one   at   Nisqually,   in 

*  National  Intelligencer^  June  14th,  1848. 


Tn 


CORRESPONDENCE   WITH   CAPTAIN   WILKKS. 


d4:li 


learned 
the  lei- 


the  call 
vinatioii 
Expedi- 
it  desire 
rev  since 
nstances 
delayed 

ly  I  con- 

e  of  the 

ire  to  do 

geogra- 

Benton 

journal, 

of  Col. 

to  state 

urselves. 

oing  so, 

st  coast 
of  your 
s,  I  shall 
of  the 
elliu"ible 
ley   are 

lally,   in 


Puget  Sound,  Oregon  Territory,  in  latitude  47°,  and  the  other  at 
Sausalito,  on  the  north  siile  of  the  entrance  in  the  bay  of  San 
Francisco,  California,  in  37°  51'  00".  At  these  positions  scenes 
of  moon-cuini'.n  iting  stars,  with  both  limbs  of  the  moon,  were 
taken,  and  the  longitude  deduced  from  intervals  observed  by 
Wm.  Cranch  Bond,  Esij.,  at  the  Observatory,  Cambridge,  Massa- 
chusetts;  by  Lieut.  Gillis,  of  the  Navy,  at  Washington;  and 
from  those  also  at  Greenwich,  both  calculated  in  the  Nautical 
Ahnanac  and  observed.  The  first  position,  Nisqually,  was  by  4G 
moon-culminating  stars,  and  the  second,  Sausalito,  by  68. 
These  two  points  thus  astronomically  determined,  were  also 
connected  by  meridian  distances  through  our  chronometers,  and 
found  to  correspond  satisfactorily.  All  the  intermediate  points 
between  these  two  latitudes  have  been  referred  to  one  or  the 
other,  and  most  to  both,  through  the  agency  of  our  chronometers. 
The  longitude  resulting  from  the  mean  of  the  68  moon-culmi- 
nating  stars  at  Sausalito  places  it  in  122°  26'  06"  221'". 

"  The  survey  of  the  river  Sacramento  was  intrusted  to  able 
officers,  and  seven  boats,  including  the  launch,  with  provisions, 
were  employed  on  this  dutv.  To  the  untirincj  exertions  and  zeal 
of  the  party  we  are  indebted  for  the  accurate  survey  of  the  river, 
from  its  mouth  at  San  Pablo,  to  the  head  of  navigation  for 
boats. 

"  The  survey  was  made  by  triangulation  until  the  river  become 
too  narrow  to  work  by  that  method  ;  above  that  it  was  accom- 
plished by  azimuths,  and  distances  by  sound.  Four  stations 
were  occupied  for  longtitude  and  latitude,  the  former  being 
determined  by  chronometers  through  equal  altitudes  of  the  stm, 
and  the  latter  by  circum-meridian  observations  and  by  polaris. 
These  positions  have  been  compare!  with  the  surveys  and  proved 
satisfactory.  The  chronometer  used  was  No.  972,  Arnold  ainl 
Dent,  an  excellent  instrument.  It  was  compared  with  the 
standard  time  at  the  Observatory  before  leavinof,  and  after  their 
return,  a  period  of  eighteen  days ;  and  its  rate  (which  was  small) 
determined  during  that  interval  by  the  Observatory  time.     The 


>   it 


l!:' 


!|i5 


1 

i 

1 

344 

IJKE 

AND 

T     vr 

SERVICES 
>fnr    if\    nl»n 

OF 

Jf)IIN 
wnrA    1 

C. 

FUEMONT. 
nriiiiinu    Sfrnifa     flarvt 

u  ■       i 


I  1 

m  ' 

], 

f 

■) 

u 

-S 

.■i 

1 

M 


v 


Sutter's  Laiuliiiijf,  Feather  River,  ivul  the  Fish  weir  at  the  head  of 
iirivii^Jitioji  for  canoes,  and  the  resiiltinir  Ioiii,ntiides  from  applyiiiif 
the  meridian  distances  to  that  of  Sausalito  Ohservatorv,  were  as 
follows:  Karirnine's  camp,  122°  10'  58"  9o"' ;  Capt.  Sutter's 
landin<r,  121°  22'  23"  55'"  ;  Feather  river,  121°  20'  02"  GO'"  ; 
Fish  weir,  121°  48'  38"  25'". 

"  The  ori!j;inal  chart  of  tlio  river  was  ])lottcd  during  the 
progress  of  the  survey  on  a  large  scale,  and  is  27  feet  in  length. 
This  I  had  the  pleasure  of  showing  to  Col.  Benton,  Capt. 
Fremont  (just  after  his  return  from  his  second  trip),  and  two  or 
three  other  gentlemen,  who  called  at  my  house  to  see  it.  This 
chart  has  been  reduced,  and  is  mow  engraved  on  a  sulUciently 
larixe  scale  to  show  all  the  windings  of  the  river. 

"In  February,  1845,  Capt.  Fremont  wrote  mo  a  letter  request- 
ing I  would  give  him  the  positions  1  had  assign*^"!  Fort  Vancou- 
ver, and  Capt.  Sutter's  Fort.  The  letter  was  forwarded  to  me  at 
Philadelphia,  where  I  was  then  engaged  I'eading  the  proofs  of 
my  Narrative.  The  longitude  of  Fort  Vancouver  was  122°  39' 
34"  G"'\V.,  and  Capt.  Sutter's  Fort  121°  40'  05"— the  same  as 
given  in  the  Narrative,  and  whicli  Avas  then  believed  to  be  cor- 
rect. Subsequent  calculations  proved  it  to  be  erroneous.  When 
this  was  discovered,  one  of  the  oflicei's  (St.  Eld),  who  was  on 
very  intimate  terms  with  Capt.  Fremont,  asked  me  if  he  was  at 
liberty  to  communicate  to  Col.  Fremont,  and  explain  to  h'un  how 
it  had  occurred.  To  this  I  of  course  assented,  and  have  sin<;e 
presumed  it  had  been  done,  though  I  have  no  further  knowledge 
of  the  fact. 

"  The  above  longitude  of  Feather  River  differs  from  that  given 
by  Belcher,  some  five  or  six  minutes,  and  not  as  stated  by  Col. 
Fremont,  some  thirty  minutes.  In  respect  to  the  observations 
made  on  the  Sacramento,  by  the  able  oflicers  intrusted  with  that 
duty,  I  am  satisfied  that  every  confidence  is  to  be  placed  in  them, 
both  for  longitude  and  latitude. 

*'  I  must  hero  take  exception  to  Col.  Fremont's  comparing  and 


-l^f 


CORRESrONDENCE   WITH   CAPTAIN   WILKES. 


ll'T 


iTioasuring  our  longitudes  from  n  small  map  eleven  inches  by 
oiglit,  covering  seventeen  degrees  of  longitinle. 

"Exception  is  also  to  be  taken  to  bis  trealiiig  tbe  minor  poirts 
of  our  surveys  as  tbough  tliey  wore  princtipal  ones,  and  gov- 
erned our  coast  line;  this  cannot  be  permitted;  bo  must  well 
know  that  all  points  of  longitude  in  a  survey  are  derived  froin 
and  referred  to  tbat  occui)ied  as  an  observatory,  an<l  tbat  tbcM'o 
is  no  otber  true  course,  and  none  other  can  witb  fairness  bo 
adopted  in  comparing  tlie  longitude  of  dilferent  survey.. 

"  Capt.  Beecbey  gives  bis  longitude  of  Verba  Buena  Oove  from 
tbe  result  of  twenty  ♦wo  moon-culminating  stars,  as  122°  27' 
23"  west.  (See  bis  Appendix,  page  6G7,  quarto,  London).  It  will 
be  seen  tbat  tbis  differs  from  ours,  and  witb  all  due  deference  to 
so  able  an  observer,  I  bave  not  tbe  sligbtest  doubt  but  tbat  Capt, 
Beecboy  bimself  would,  in  weigbing  tbe  testimony  of  tbe  two, 
decide  tbat  tbe  preference  was  to  bo  given  to  our  longitude,  tbe 
result  of  sixty-eigbt  culminations.  Altbougb  wo  do  not  agree 
witb  Capt.  Beecbey,  yet  I  consider  we  confirm  bis  longitudes. 

"  An  inference  may  bo  drawn  from  a  part  of  tbe  remarks  of 
Col.  Fremont  tbat  tbe  Exploration  Expedition  bad  depended  for 
its  results  upon  otbers.  I  bave  to  inform  bim  as  well  as  otbers 
(to  make  use  of  a  common  expression),  tbat  the  Expedition, 
Avberever  it  did  go,  went  on  its  own  hook. 

"  Having  thus  considered  tbe  operations  of  tbis  Exploring 
Expedition,  let  us  return  to  tbe  point  at  issue  before  tbe  public. 
Capt.  Beecbey  established  bis  observatory  in  November,  1827, 
near  tbe  fort  at  Monterey,  from  which  can  be  seen  Santa 
CruZy  near  Anno  JVuevo,  the  northwestern  point  of  the  bay 
of  Monterey,  where  Col.  Benton  claims  that  Lieut.  Col. 
Fremont  made  tbe  observations  which  detected  tbe  error  in  tbo 
coast-line  of  California.  Capt.  Beecbey  has  given  tbe  longitude 
as  122°  51'  46",  obtained  from  seven  moon-culminating  stars. 
(See  Appendix,  page  068).  Lieut.  Col.  Fremont  admits  tbat  ho 
agrees  with  Capt.  Beecbey  in  his  longitudes,  and  it  is,  therefore, 
to  be  presumed  tbat  it  is  with   tbe  longitude  of  Monterey,  or 


f- 


SIG 


LIFK   AND   SKRVICKS   01'  JOHN    C.    FltKxMONT. 


that  of  Yeiba  Biiona  Cove,  wlii'-li  have  been  connected  by 
Bcecliy,  and  found  to  correspond.  If  ho  had  a  kn(>vvle<l<j^e  of 
these  observations,  the  public  must  be  satistied  that  Col.  Benton 
was  not  aiithoriijed  to  claim  the  detection  of  an  error  for  Lieut. 
Col.  Fremont  in  the  longitude  of  the  coast  of  California  that 
had  been  previously  known  to  him.  "J'he  surveys  reported  to  be 
in  prosecution  by  Commander  Montgomery,  of  the  Portsmouth, 
relate  no  doubt  to  the  Gulf  of  (^alitbrnia  and  its  coast,  and  not 
to  the  racitic  coast  of  California,  between  Monterey  and  Cape 
St.  Lucas. 

"  This  part  of  the  coast  is  well  known,  and  there  are  ample 
materials  for  its  delineation  in  the  possession  of  the  British 
Admiralty.  It  is  usual  to  account  for  the  h^ss  of  a  ship  by  im- 
puting errors  to  charts.  No  vessel  ought  to  encounter  wreck  on 
a  coast,  except  through  stress  of  weather;  it  might  happen  on  an 
insulated  reef,  rock,  or  islet ;  but  on  a  coast,  in  fair  weather,  it 
must  result  either  from  ignorance  or  culpable  neglect. 

"  As  you,  Messrs.  Editors,  truly  observe,  '  this  discussion  is  a 
matter  [lurely  scientific;  ditierence  of  opinion  cannot  be  any 
cause  of  quarrel,  not  even  of  unkind  feeling.'  I  therefore  trust, 
having  felt  none  myself,  t  have  been  successful  in  avoiding  giv- 
ing cause  for  any  to  others. 

"  I  am,  very  respectfully  your  obedient  servant, 

"  Charles  Wilkes. 

"  Washington,  June  12, 1849." 

LETTER  FROM  COLONEL  FREMONT  TO  THE  EDITORS.* 


1  I  I 


"  Messrs.  Gales  andSeaton:  I  should  not  deem  it  neces- 
sary to  trouble  you  or  your  readers  with  any  further  remarks  on 
the  subject  on  which  Captain  Wilkes  has  thought  proper  to 
invite  a  controversy  with  me,  were  it  not  for  the  very  extraor- 
dinary position  taken  in  his  letter  this  morning,  and  which  goes 
to  the  extent,  in  effect,  of  imputing  unfairness  in  my  references 

*  National  Infdliqn,.-rr,  .T'lnf  16,  184S. 


COREESrONDENCE    WITH    CAPTAIN    WIIKF.3. 


34T 


ofOes 


to  hia  ohserviitiona,  because  I  tested  lliem  by  the  map  and  books 
which  he  lias  published,  and  not  to  the  results  of  certain  'sub- 
sequent calcuhitions,'  which  are  now  for  the  lirat  time  made 
public. 

"  Not  k)n|rr  after  Captain  Wilkes  had  boon  polite  enoufjh  to 
furnish  me,  as  stated  in  my  former  letter,  with  the  position  he 
bad  established  for  New  Helvetia,  I  left  the  country  on  my 
third  expedition ;  and  neiiluu'  before  my  dejiarture  nor  at  any 
time  until  now,  in  the  '  In'telligencer '  of  this  morning,  did  I  ever 
learn  that  Captain  Wilkes  luul  discovered  the  erroneousness  ot 
of  that  position,  nor  do  I  now  find  that  there  are  any  errata  or 
other  memoranda  in  his  book  by  which  the  cori'oction  is  indi- 
cated ;  and  I  had  not  the  power  of  clairvoyance  to  discover 
those 'subsequent  calculations '  that  seem  to  have  been  mean- 
time secure  in  his  bureau.  Captain  Wilkes  knew  the  use  I 
was  to  make  of  the  position  with  which  he  furnished  me,  and  if, 
in  fact,  he  made  the  discovery  he  now  announces  at  the  time  he 
states,  while  I  was  still  here  and  my  report  and  map  open  to 
correction,  the  indifference  which,  according  to  his  own  showing, 
he  manifested,  was  neither  more  nor  less  than  willfully  to  per- 
mit (or  rather  cause)  the  further  propagation  of  error  on  hia 
authority.  I  had  applied  to  Captain  Wilkes,  in  a  written  com- 
munication, for  positions  whicli  would  enable  me  to  connect  my 
reconnoissance  across  the  country  with  his  surveys.  His  reply 
and  the  positions  he  furnished  me  came  in  the  same  shape  I 
received  them  and  gave  them  to  the  public  in  full  confidence; 
and  I  must  confess  my  surprise — not  to  use  a  stronger  term — 
now  to  learn  that,  on  discovering  that  he  had  led  me  into  so 
important  an  error,  he  had  not  at  once  given  me  the  proper 
correction  in  the  most  authentic  form. 

"  Undoubtedly  the  positions  noio  set  down  by  Captain  Wilkes 
for  the  Sacramento  valley  agree  closely  with  the  fact;  but  ho 
fj-ives  them  now  tor  the  first  time,  and  it  is  most  unwairantable, 
his  assertion  that  it  was  with  reference  to  these  7iew  positions 
that  I  had  said  he  differed  half  a  degree  of  longitude  from 


I 


348 


LIFE    AND    SKKVICES   OF   JOHN    C.    FREMONT. 


'ii;i: 


,  i  ■  1 

1: 

J:| 

i 

1  iil 

ill 

■  is 

,, 

^H 

yU 

m 

Captain  Bolcher.  I  had  novor  lioard  of  these  new  positions, 
niid  could  not  have  .sj)()ken  of  tlicni.  It  was  with  rcfercnco  to 
Captain  Wilkes's ^>///;//.s7«'rf  wo)-Ar*,  whicli  have  now  been  before 
tiio  public  uncoin.'ctcd  for  the  s})aco  of  three  ycars^  tliat  I  said 
and  ropoat  that  his  positions  differ  half  a  degree  from  those  of 
Captain  liolchor,  wliom  lie  assumes,  in  his  letter  of  Thursday 
last,  to  agree  with  and  corroborate. 

"  T  wish  it  to  bo  borne  in  mind  that  it  was  not  in  an  invidious 
spirit,  or  for  any  j>urpose  of  attack,  that  I  pointed  out  this 
remarkable  discrepancy.  Captain  Wilkes  claimed  in  his  note  to 
liavo  ])ublishod  a  correct  delineation  of  the  western  coast  prior 
to  any  observations  which  I  had  made  there  ;  and  my  only 
object  was  to  show  why,  if  such  were  the  fact,  I  was  not  aware 
of  it.  The  reason  was  this,  that  on  comparing  the  position  he 
had  given  me  in  the  Sacramento  valley  with  my  own  observa- 
tions, I  perceived  that  there  was  the  wide  differer  of  twenty 
miles  of  longitude  between  us,  and  I  supposed  that  Ms  observa- 
tions would  agree  with  each  other,  and  of  course  the  same  dis- 
agreement between  his  positions  and  mine  would  exist  on  the 
coast.  I  did  not  know  that  he  had  published  maps  or  charts 
on  other  surveys  than  his  own,  and  hence  did  not  further  con- 
sult his  labors.  When,  however,  he  raised  this  controversy, 
and  referred  in  his  note  to  Captain  Belcher's  observations  as 
being  in  agreement  with  his,  I  found  it  proper  to  consult  his 
published  works,  and  to  show,  in  self  defence,  that  in  the  dis- 
crepancy between  us  he  was  not  thus  supported  by  Captain 
Belcher,  but  differed  widely  from  him. 

"  If  Captain  Wilkes  intends,  by  taking  exception  to  my  refer- 
ence to  his  map,  published  with  the  fifth  volume  of  his  Narrative, 
to  say  that  his  map  is  incorrect  and  of  no  authority,  then  I 
admit  it  would  be  improper  to  use  it  against  him  hereafter. 
But  this  disavowal  comes  too  late  to  affect  anything  that  has 
gone  before ;  and,  moreover,  if  Uie  map  is  to  be  thus  discarded, 
and  also  the  positions  given  in  the  text,  now,  after  a  lapse  of 
thre'>  years  ,  to  be  erased  and  different  ones  substituted,  in  what 


CORRESPONDENCE   WITH   CAPTAIN   WILKE8. 


3H) 


I 


part  of  the  ciglit  magnificent  voliuncs  can   we  bo  certain  that 

*  subsequent  calculations' liavo  not  (iotectcd  inaccuracies  licro- 
after  to  be  exliibited  ?  It  is  idle  to  intimate  that  in  a  map,  on 
the  scale  of  that  given  in  the  narrative  of  Captain  Wilkes 
(volume  5,  beginning  of  chapter  6),  and  executed  with  so 
much  precision  and  neatness,  with  the  meridians  and  paralU-Is 
of  latitude  drawn  at  distances  of  single  degrees,  discrepancies  in 
position  of  such  an  extent  as  twenty  to  thirty  minutes,  cannot  pro- 
perly bo  examined.  For  what  purpose  are  the  lines  of  longitude  and 
latitude  drawn  upon  the  map  at  all,  if  the  position  of  places  and 
objects  given  are  not  to  be  measured  and  ascertained  by  them  ? 
If  the  ditierence  in  question  were  sliglit,  no  notice  would  have 
been  taken  of  it;  but  this  broad  discrepancy  of  half  a  degree  is 
as  palpable  and  as  open  to  criticism  as  if  the  map  which  shows 
it  were  twenty  times  its  actual  scale;  and  this  more  especially 
when  it  relates  to  a  section  which  was  the  ol>je(!t  of  a  particular, 
extended,  and  careful  survey,  as  Captain  Wilkes  informs  us  was 
the  case  with  the  river  Sacramento,  and  embraces  not  an  isolated 
point  but  the  whole  of  that  section. 

"  But  Captain  Wilkes  further  takes  exception,  and  '  cannot 
permit '  that  I  shall  '  treat  the  minor  points  of  his  survey  as 
principal  ones.'  Nor  have  I  done  so ;  but  surely  there  ought  to 
be  some  degree  of  accordance  between  the  minor  points  and 
the  principal  ones,  and  if  a  large  error  be  found  in  the  minor 
a  corresponding  one  will  be  found  in  the  principal.  Besides, 
this  is  not  the  error  of  a  single  '  minor  point,'  but  a  series  of 
errors  running  througli  the  observations  made  in  some  hundreds 
of  miles.  And,  furthermore.  Captain  Wilkes  informs  us  in  his 
narrative,  that  a  prominent  point  in  the  Sacramento  valley — the 
Prairie  Buttes  (isolated  mountains) — formed  '  one  of  the  con- 
necting links'  between  two  surveying  parties  of  his  expedition, 
one    coming  from    the  north,  the  other  from  the  south,  and 

*  served  to  verifiy  their  respective  observations.'  Surely  it  was 
fair  to  conclude  that  the  observations  thus  '  coimected  '  and 
'  verified,'  whether  made  at  minor  points  or  principal  ones,  were 


'i  1'  i 


i;« 


^Pf'^ 


iiumwwinBiBii 


m  :i 


;  ! 


Wi 


:>i 


If 


I- 


350 


LIFE   AND   SERVICES   OF   JOHN    0.    FKEMONT. 


intended  to  be  taken  for  correct,  and  the  positions  laid  down 
accordiiiijly.  Again,  these  JSuttes,  '  particularly  described  '  in 
the  narrative,  and  thus  Ibrniing'  a  '  connecting  link' and  point 
of  '  verilicition '  for  the  surveys  of  the  expedition,  are  con- 
sj)icuously  laid  down  by  Captain  Wilkes  on  his  map,  with  the 
meridian  of  122°  passing  through  them.  Now,  c'^es  Captain 
Wilkes  wish  us  to  believe  that  all  this  stands  for  nothing  { 
Does  he  mean  to  intimate  that  positions  thus  noted  by  him,  and 
conspicuously  brought  forward  in  the  book  and  on  the  map,  ;vre 
not  to  be  criticised  because  they  are  minor,  not  principal  parts 
in  the  surveys  ? 

"Consideied  with  relation  to  the  position  assigned  to  the 
Sacramento  River,  the  Buttes  are  rightly  placed  on  the  map  ;  but 
*  connecting  link'  and  point  of  'verification'  as  they  are,  they 
require,  along  with  the  whole  extent  of  the  river,  to  be  removed 
many  miles  (in  no  pait  less  than  twenty)  further  east,  in  order  to 
correspond  with  tlieir  true  longitude.  The  errors,  therefore, 
cannot  be  laid  to  the  execution  of  the  map,  whicii  is  thus  shown 
to  be  drawn  with  care,  and  to  agree  with  itself.  It  will  also 
be  noted  that,  as  two  surveys  were  here  'connected'  and  '  veri- 
fied ' — if,  in  fact,  the  errors  which  run  through  the  line,  were 
the  result,  as  we  are  now  informed,  of  wrong  '  calculations,' 
instead  of  wrong  observation,  they  involved  a  most  remarkable 
series  of  blunders,  embracing  the  surveys  of  the  parties  both  from 
the  north  and  south. 

"  I  will  copy  here  the  longitude  given  by  Captain  Wilkes  in 
bis  book,  contrasted  with  those  he  now,  for  the  first  time,  otiers  as 
from  '  subsequent  calculations.'  In  his  book  (quarto  edition),  he 
places  New  Helvetia  in  longitude  121°  40'  05"  ;  in  his  letter  of 
to-day  he  gives  121°  2J'  23"  bo"  as  the  longitude  of  a  point, 
(Sutter's  landing)  near  two  miles  west  of  New  Helvetia,  The 
'  Fish  River,  at  the  head  of  navigation'  he  gives  in  his  book  at 
122°  12'  17",  his  present  correction  brings  it  121^48'  38"  25"'. 
The  mouth  of  Feather  River  I  do  not  find  noted  in  his  book  ;  in 
his  new  correction  he  assigns  it  121°  29'  02"  60'" — on  his  map 


COREESPONDENCE  WITH  CAPTAIN   WILKES. 


351 


it  is  placed  some  minutes  west  of  122°.  A  relative  position 
given  to  the  coast,  I  rejieat,  wouM  have  thrown  it  as  much  too 
far  west  as  Vancouver  has  placed  it  too  far  east. 

''  I  will  not,  however,  here  question  Captain  Wilkes's  observa- 
tions on  the  coast,  or  further  inquire  whether  they  ought  to  be 
said  to  copy  or  conoborate  those  of  Captain  Boechey  ;  neither 
will  I  question  that  the  longitude  7iow  given  by  Captain  Wilkes 
for  his  positions  in  the  Sacramento  valley  are  the  true  results  of 
his  observations  there,  corrected  by  "  subsequent  calculations  ;" 
but  I  will  say  that,  after  suppressing  the  discovery  of  the  errors 
he  now  announces  for  a  space  of  three  yeai's,  he  has  lost  any 
right  to  plead  them  for  any  purpose  ;  lej.st  of  all,  for  the  purpose 
of  finding  fault  with  those  who  have  in.iocently  taken  his  book 
and  map  for  authentic  records.  I  must,  moreover,  be  allowed 
to  inquire  what  degree  of  credit  can  further  attach  to  a  work 
which,  got  ready  with  four  year's  preparation,  its  author,  three 
years  subsequent  to  its  publication,  thus  comes  forward  to 
discredit? 

"  J.  C.  Fremont. 

"  Washington,  June  lith,  1848." 

LETTER    FROM    CAPTAIN    WILKES    TO    THE    EDITORS.* 

"  Gentlemen  :  It  is  not  my  intention  to  trespass  upon  your 
columns,  or  to  weary  the  patience  of  your  readers  ;  but  I  feel 
constrained  to  offer  a  few  words  in  reply  to  Lieut.  Col.  Fremont's 
article  in  your  paper  of  this  morning. 

*'  As  the  object  which  was  at  issue  before  the  public  is  not 
touched  upon  in  Lieut.  Col.  Fremont's  last  article,  I  consider  it 
therefore  as  ended,  and  that  the  testimony  that  I  have  adduced 
of  Capt.  Beechey's  observations  at  Monteiey  and  Yerba  Buena 
are  entirely  satisfactory  to  show  that  Col.  Benton  was  not 
authorized  to  claitri  for  Lieut.  Col.  Fremont  the  detection  of  the 
error  in  the  longitude  of  the  coast  of  California. 

*  Kntinnal  TnteUiqcncer,  .Tiinp  19th,  18-t8. 


I 


ilfc  i 


I 


'I 


' 


S52 


LIFE   AND   SERVICES   OF  JOHN   C.   FREMONT. 


1 


rj-        !  ■ 


h\ 


6  f 


i'     1 


I   ■'•■■ 


mi--      -  ■ '" 


r 


H\ 


"  Lieut.  Col.  Fremont's  absence  from  the  country  on  arduous 
duty  may  perhaps  be  a  sufficient  apology  for  his  being  uninform- 
ed of  what  has  been  done  or  published  during  the  time,  but  I  do 
not  think  he  can  be  held  justified  for  making  against  me  so 
sweeping  a  charge  as  he  has  done,  of  withholding  and  suppress- 
ing corrections  from  the  public,  when  a  slight  examination  or 
some  little  inquiry,  would  have  satisfied  him  he  was  in  error 
especially  as  it  was  a  fact  that  the  desire  to  meet  his  inquiries 
and  oblige  was  in  part  the  cause  of  the  errors  of  the  longitude 
he  makes  mention  of  on  a  small  map,  the  corrections  of  which 
errors  were  made  a  short  time  afterwards,  and  I  fully  believed 
had  been  furnished  by  Lieut.  Col.  Fremont  by  Lieut.  Eld,  as 
stated  in  my  last  communication. 

*'  Respectfully,  your?,  <fec., 

"Charles  Wilkes. 
"Jwne  Uth,  1848." 

LETTER    FROM    COL.    FREMONT   TO    THE    EDITORS.* 

"Messrs.  Gales  &  Seaton:  I  must  confess  my  inability  to 
understand  what  Capt.  Wilkes  intends  to  signify,  in  his  letter  of 
yesterday,  by  stating  that  his  desire  to  oblige  me  was  one  cause 
of  the  errors  in  the  map  of  California.  I  do  not  perceive  what 
connection  I  had  with  those  mistakes,  other  than  to  have  been 
grossly  misled  by  placing  confidence  in  the  positions  which  he 
furnished  me. 

"  Apart  from  those  I  never  saw  any  observations  or  calculations 
of  Capt.  Wilkes,  and  I  never  saw  his  publications  till  since  the 
beginning  of  the  present  correspondence. 

"  If  he  means  that  in  his  haste  to  furnish  me  with  the  positions 
I  had  requested,  the  erroneous  calculations  were  made,  to  which 
he  now  attributes  his  mistaken  longitudes,  I  answer  that  his 
expedition  had  then  been  nearly  four  years  returned,  liis  publica- 
tions were  nearly  through  the  press,  and  it  is  extraordinary  if  his 

*  National  Intelligencer,  June  20th,  1848. 


CORRESPONDENCE    WITH    CAPTAIN   WILKES. 


353 


calculations  had  not  been  made,  and  even  the  identical  map 
(which  he  would  thus  seem  disposed  to  hold  me  responsible  for  the 
blunders  of)  both  drawn  and  engraved.     Morever,  I  had  under- 
stood from  Capt.  Wilkes's  first  letter  that  his  charts  had  been 
published  the  year  previous  to  my  application  to  him,  and  it 
would  seem  that  his  positions  ought  to  have  been  calculated  pre- 
vious to  the  making  of  his  charts.     The  truth  is  Capt.  Wilkes  led 
me  into  error.     According  to  his  present  showing,  he  discovered 
very  soon  after  that  he  had  done  so.     I  must  be  permitted  to 
believe  that  had  his  desire  to  oblige  me  been  so  strong  as  is  now 
intimated,  he  would  liave  taken  the  trouble  to  apprise  me  of  his 
mistake,  which  he  never  did.     I  discovered  the  error  of  the  posi- 
tion he  had  given  me  in  the  Sacramento  valley  from  observations 
made  during  my  late  tour.     I  did  not  suspect,  and  had  no  reason 
to  suspect,  that  he  had  made  any  subsequent  rectification,  and 
hence   I  was  led  into  the    second  error  (if  it  be  an  error)  of 
supposing  the  coast  was  still  erroneously  laid  down.     I  ascertain- 
ed, as  far  as  I  was  able  to  make  inquiry,  that  no  chart  of  the 
fjoast  had  been  issued  by  Beechey  or  Belcher ;  I  knew  that  Capt. 
Wilkes  was  the  last  surveyor  there ;  I  knew  that  my  observations 
differed  from  what  he  had  furnished  me  as  his  by  about  twenty 
miles,  in  the  Sacramento  valley,  and  took  it  for  granted  that 
forty  miles  further  west  the  same  disagreement  would  exist ;  and 
so  corrected  the  outline  of  my  map  according  to  my  own  obser- 
vations.    The  report  shortly  after  brouglit  in  by  one  of  our  public 
vessels  of  the  wreck  of  a  ship  on  the  coast  in  consequence  of 
error  in  the  charts  in  common  use,  it  was  considered  good  reason 
for  making  known  that  a  different  projection  of  the  coast  would 
appear  on  the  forthcoming  map.     If,  then,  there  was  any  error 
in  this,  or  in  the  manner  of  its  announcement,  it  is  attributable 
entirely  to  the  wrong  information  given  me  by  Capt.  Wilkes, 
and  his  failure  to  inform  me  of  the  fact,  if  he  afterwards  discover- 
ed the  error  he  had  led  me  into,  and  which  I  had  published  on 
his  authority  ;  for  I  could  not  be  expected  to  look  to  his  publica- 
tions for  a  correct  delineation  of  the  coast,  when  I  knew  that 
forty  miles  off  he  had  made  so  large  an  error. 


I  \ 


i 


'■fjf^if* 


1!^ 


854: 


LIFE    AND    SEliVlUKS    OF    JOHN    0.    FREMONT. 


"  But  it  is  clear  tliat,  if  Captain  Wilkes  informs  us,  he  has 
made  a  publication  of  charts  which  give  the  necessary  correction 
of  the  coast,  he  must  have  abandoned  his  own  survey  for  the 
puipose,  and  proceeded  entirelf/  by  the  observations  of  others,  lie 
published  his  charts,  according  to  his  note  of  the  0th  instant, 
inviting  this  controversy,  'in  1844.'  Now,  it  was  in  the  win- 
ter of  1844-5,  that  he  furnished  nie  the  positions  which,  accord- 
ing to  his  own  showing,  are  so  erroneous ;  and,  still  later,  his 
own  books  contain  the  same  and  many  corresponding  errors. 
His  positions,  Capt.  Wilkes  informs  us,  were  determined  by  the 
establishment  of  two  observations — one  at  Nis(|ually,  in  I'uget's 
Sound  (the  longitude  of  wdjich,  nevertheless,  he  does  not  furnish 
us  with),  and  the  other  Sausalito,  at  the  north  side  of  the 
entrance  to  the  Bay  of  San  Francisco — and  the  reference  of  all 
the  intermediate  points  to  one  or  the  other,  and  most  of  tliem  to 
both  of  these  main  positions.  Now,  I  will  venture  to  say  that 
all  tliese  'intermediate  points,'  thus  'referred,'  and  as  appears 
by  the  narrative,  '  connected'  and  "  veritied,'  could  not  contain  a 
common  error,  as  they  do,  both  in  the  map  and  text  of  Caj)tain. 
Wilkes's  book,  without  a  like  error  m  the  n)ain  positions.  Hence 
if  Capt.  Wilkes  published  a  correction  of  the  coast,  in  chart, 
1844,  he  must  have  done  it  on  tl)e  labors  of  others;  for  he 
does  not  pretend  to  have  discovered  the  erroneousness  of  his 
own  cahmlations  till  after  the  issuing  of  his  book  in  1845. 

"  I  apprehend,  Messrs.  Editors,  tliat,  notwithstanding  the  charts 
by  Capt.  Wilkes,  and  the  labors  of  the  British  officers,  w  hom  he 
quotes  and  seems  to  have  copied,  wlien  the  whole  truth  comes 
to  be  investigated,  it  will  be  found  that  the  proper  position  of 
the  coast  is  not  much  better  ascertained  now  than  it  was  near 
sixty  years  ago.  My  occupation  has  been  that  of  reconnoissanco 
and  survey  inland,  and  my  attention  had  not  been  directed  to 
ths  state  of  the  survevs  on  the  coast  bevond  the  veiv  nai'row 
incjuiry — when  I  found  my  observations  to  be  at  variance  with 
those  of  Vancouver,  and  still  more  so  with  those  of  Capt. 
Wilkes — whether  Beechey  or  Belcher  had  published  a  cor- 
rected cluirt.     Since  the  commencen)ent  of  this  correspondence, 


■r 


IM 


11 


er,  his 


charts 
lioin  he 

comes 
liou  of 
IS  near 
lissanco 
^teil  to 
In  arrow 
I'e  with 
I    Capt. 

a  cor- 

[dencQ, 


OOEKESPONDKNGE   WITH   CAPTAIN   WILKES. 


855 


however,  I  have  given  the  subject  some  more  examination.  The 
Spanish  navigator,  Malaspina,  to  the  merits  ot"  whom  llinuboMt 
bears  such  honorable  testimony,  and  whose  subsequent  mist'or- 
tunes  and  poUtical  persecution  gave  a  peculiar  interest  to  such 
portion  of  his  labors  as  tliey  did  not  destroy,  made  a  survey  of 
this  coast  in  1791.  His  longitudes,  as  far  as  I  have  been  able 
to  examine  them,  were  nearly  correct.  Vancouver  followetl 
innnediately  after,  and  his  surveys,  disagreed  with  Malaspina's, 
threw  the  coast  from  a  third  to  a  half  degree  too  far  east;  sub- 
sequent surveys,  as  far  as  tliey  have  made  any  change,  are  but 
hltle  more  than  restoring  the  positions  of  Malaspina. 

"  As  for  Capt.  Wilkes's  renewed  objection  to  having  his  '  small 
map,'  taken  for  a  test,  I  have  to  remai'k,  that  corresponding 
errors  with  those  in  his  '  small  map,'  appear  in  his  larger  map 
of  Oregon^  and  in  the  text  of  his  narrative^  and  1  am  not 
acquainted  with  any  other  publications  he  has  made.  If  he 
objects  to  having  it  said  that  he  has  suppressed  or  withheld 
his  corrections,  surely  he  ought  to  point  where  and  when  he 
has  made  them  public. 

"  I  wish  again  to  make  Jie  remark  that  this  controversy  is  not 
of  my  seeking.  When  I  disi^overed  the  great  erroneousness  of 
the  positions  Capt.  Wilkes  had  given  me,  I  contented  myself  by 
quietly  making  the  corrections  on  my  man;  1  had  received  them 
in  good  faith  as  the  result  of  his  observations,  and  supposed  them 
to  be  o-iven  the  same  v/av,  and. should  have  studiouslv  avoided, 
therefore  any  mention  of  the  descrepancy.  Had  I  known,  how- 
ever, what  he  now  informs  us  of,  that  he  had  shortly  afterwards 
found  those  positions  to  be  incorrect,  and  yet  left  me  in  ignor- 
ance of  the  rectification,  to  make  an  erroneous  publication,  I 
should  not  have  been  so  silent. 

''  I  stated  in  my  first  letter  that  I  did  not  see  why  Captain 
Wilkes  had  thought  himself  called  on  to  provoke  this  contro- 
versv,  since  whatever  his  merits  in  tlie  publication  of  corrections 
on  the  coast  of  California,  he  could  not  claim  any  share  in  the 
making  them.     I  am  now  still  more  at  a  loss  to  kuow  why  ho 


li  ! 
ill' 


: 


I'       \ 


I 


; 


Nil 


i'; 


if 


[1 

u 


356 


LIFE   AND   SERVICES   OF  JOHN  0.   FREMONT. 


felt  concerned  in  the  matter,  for  it  has  become  still  more  plain 
that  he  could  not  have  supposed  himself  in  any  v/ay  wroi>"fed. 
His  surveys  not  only  do  not  make  any  corrections  on  the  coast 
of  California,  but  I  feel  warranted  in  saying  that  his  entire 
surveys  in  Oregon  and  California,  as  far  as  they  follow  his  own 
observations,  are  erroneously  laid  down  in  his  j  published  works. 

"  J.  C.  Fremont. 

•'  Washington,  June2Qth,  1843," 


FOURTH  EXPLORING  EXPEDITION. 


857 


CHAPTER  Xm. 


FOURTH  EXPEDITION ENCAMPED  IN  KA.NSA8 ^TERRIBLE  JOUR- 
NEY THROUGH  THE  MOUNTAINS FRIGHTFUL  SNOW  STORM — • 

ONE  HUNDRED  AND  TWENTY  MULES  FROZEN  TO  DEATH  IN 
ONE  NIGHT — STARVATION  OF  HIS  COMRADES — MIOKTS  AN 
UNEXPECTED  FRIEND REACHES  THE  RANCHE  OF  KIT  CAR- 
BON  THRILLING   LETTER  TO  HIS  WIFE — ADVENTURE  WITH 

NAVAHOES  INDIANS. 

In  October,  184:8,  Fremont  sat  out  upon  liis  fourth  ex- 
pedition. But  lie  went  now  at  his  own  expense  and  not 
at  the  expense  of  the  government;  as  an  emigrant  in 
quest  of  a  home  in  the  new  State  wliich  he  had  enuinci- 
pated,  and  not  as  an  ofhcer  under  orders.  lie  went  to 
prepare  for  the  recepition  of  his  family,  who  were  to  join 
him  in  the  spring,  and  he  cliose  the  winter  for  the  journey 
as  the  season  best  adapted  to  make  him  acquainted  with 
several  of  the  most  serious  difficuhies  to  be  encountered 
in  the  construction  of  a  highway  to  the  Pacific,  an  enter- 
prise of  which  he  never  lost  sight  in  any  of  his  plans  for 
the  future.  He  sat  out  on  the  19th  of  October,  and  deter- 
mined to  make  tlie  line  of  his  route  aloni;  the  head  of  the 
liio  Grande  ;  lirst,  because  that  route  had  never  yet  been 
explored,  and  secondly,  because  he  had  been  informed 
by  the  mountaineers  that  there  was  a  very  practicable 


U 


;  m 


k 


j;  I 


I'    I 


358 


LIFE   AND   SERVICES   OF   JOHN   C.   FREMONT. 


!.« 


(i 


.y  i 


l^( 


'■i\t'. 


^1' 


pass  tliron^h  the  Mountains  at  the  head  of  tliat  rlvor. 
This  route  to(>k  him  tliruugh  tlie  country  of  the  Utahs, 
A})aches,  Navalioes,  Cainanches,  Kioways,  and  other 
savage  tribes  of  Indians,  then  all  al;  war  with  the  United 
States.  To  contend  with  the  enemies  and  i)hysical  dan- 
gers of  the  inhospitable  region  through  which  he  was  to 
pass,  lie  had  selected  thirty-three  of  his  old  companions, 
all  provided  with  good  rifles,  and  one  hundred  and 
twenty  of  the  best  mules  he  could  find.  These,  with  an 
experience  in  the  kind  of  life  to  which  they  were  to  be 
exposed,  without  a  parallel,  and  with  a  courage  never 
surpassed,  constituted  his  outfit  and  his  security.  Their 
preparations  for  this  expedition  were  mostly  made  at 
a  small  government  post  just  over  the  borders  of 
Missouri  in  Kansas.  Mrs.  Fremont  attended  him  as 
far  as  this  point,  and  remained  with  him  for  the  five 
or  six  weeks  that  he  was  occupied  with  his  prepara- 
tions; spending  her  days  at  his  camp  and  her  nights 
at  the  more  comfortable  quarters  hospitably  assigned 
to  her  and  her  husband  by  Major  Cummins,  a  venerable 
Indian  agent  who  had  lived  upon  the  frontier  for  twenty 
or  thirty  years.  Here,  in  the  depths  of  this  vast  wilder- 
ness, far  beyond  even  the  shadows  of  advancing  civili- 
zation, Col.  Fremont  and  his  little  party  made  their  first 
ac(puiintance  with  a  country  which  only  seven  years 
afterwards '  became  the  theatre  of  events  destined  to 
change  the  whole  plan  of  his  life; — to  call  him.  like 
"Washington,  from  his  surveying,  to  l)ecome  the  national 
champion  of  freedom  and  civilization. 

Of  the  ]irogres3  and  results  of  this  expedition,  fortu- 
nate as  well  as  disastrous,  Col.  Fremont  has  as  yet  pub- 
lished no  complete  report.  A  sufficiently  minute  ac- 
count of  it,  however,  for  our  pvesont  purpose  may  be 


roURTH   EXPLORING   EXPEDITION. 


359 


gathcroil  from  his  privnto  corrci^ponflcneo  dnrnin^  the 
journey,  and  from  the  sketch  just  })ublished  by  Cuh)nel 
Benton. 

Tlie  follo^v^ng  letter   dated  from  Bent's  Fort  shows 
what  he  had  accomplislicd  up  to  that  pohit. 

LETTER  FUOM  COL.  FREMONT  TO  COL.  BENTON. 


ned 

I 

•able 

enty 
der- 
vill- 
first 
ears 
d  to 
like 
onal 


ac- 
he 


'«  Camp  at  Bent's  Fort,  Nov.  17, 1848. 
'    "My  Dear  Sir:  We  have  met  with  very  reusoimble  success 
and  some  good  residts  this  first  long  step  upon  our  journey.     In 
order  to  avoid   the  chance  of  snow-storms  upon   the  more  ex- 
posed Arkansas  road,  I  followed   up   the  line  of  the  vSouthern 
Kansas  (the  true  Kansas  River)  and  so  far  added  souieth.ing  to 
geography.     For  a  distance  of  400  miles  our  route  led  through 
a  country  affording  ahundant  timber,  game,  and  excellent  grass. 
We  find  that  the  Valley  of  the   Kansas   affords  by  far  the  most 
eligible  approach  to  the  Mountains.     The  whole  valley  soil  is 
of  very  superior  quality,  well   timbered,  abundant  grasses,  and 
the   route  very  dii-ect.     This   line  would  afiord  continuous  fuid 
good  settlements  certainly  for  400  miles,  and  is  tlierefore  worthy 
of  consideration  in  any  plan  of  a))proach  to  the  Mountains.  We 
found  our  friend.  Major  Fitzpatrick,  in  the   full  exercise  of  his 
functions   at  a  pf)int   about  thirt}^  miles  below  this,  in  what  is 
called   the  '  Big  Timber,'  and  surrounded   by  about  600  lodges 
of  ditVeient  nations,  Aj)aches,  Cauianches,  Kioways,  and  Arapa- 
hoes.    He  is  a  most  admirable  ai^ent,  entirely  educated  for  sutdi 
a  post,  and  possessing  the  ability  and  courage  necessary  to  make 
his  education  available.     He  has  succeeded  in  drawing  out  from 
among  the  Catnnnches  the  whole  Kioway  nation,  with  the  excep- 
tion of  six  lodges,  and  l^rouirlit  over  amonnf  them  a  considerable 
number  of  lodges  of  the   Apaches  and   Camanclies.      When   wo 
arrived    he  was  holdino:  a  talk   with  theni,  making  a  feast  aixl 
giving  them  a  few  pres.-nts.     We  found  tlu'in  .;  [  on  their  goo<l 
behavior,  and    were   treate>l  in  tli*'  most  fi'iendlv  uianuur;   wvio 


» 


|i;; 


fi 

1 

1 

if^  ■■' 

: 

u 

1 

i  ■ 

m 

Hi 

I 

1     ■ 

i 

|r       I 


M' 


-■-■  s 


300 


LIFE   AND   SERVICES   OF  JOHN   C.    FREMONT. 


neither  annoyed  by  them,  nor  had  anything  stolen  from  us.  I 
hope  you  will  be  able  to  give  him  some  support,  lie  will  be 
able  to  save  lives  and  money  for  the  government,  and  knowing 
how  difficult  iliis  Indian  question  may  become,  I  am  particular 
in  bringing  Fitzpatrick's  operations  to  your  notice.  In  a  few 
years  he  might  have  them  all  farming  here  on  the  Arkan- 
sas. 

"  Both  Indians  and  whites  here  report  the  snow  to  be  deeper 
in  the  mountains  than  has  for  a  long  time  been  known  so  early 
in  the  season,  and  they  predict  a  severe  winter.  This  morning 
for  the  first  time,  the  mountains  showed  themselves,  covered  with 
snow,  as  well  as  tlie  country  around  us,  for  it  snowed  steadily  the 
greater  part  of  yesterday  and  the  night  before.  Still,  I  am  in 
nowise  discouraged  by  the  prospect,  and  believe  that  we  shall 
succeed  in  forcing  our  wuy  across.  We  will  ascend  the  Del 
Norte  to  its  head,  descend  on  to  the  Colorado,  and  so  across  the 
Wahsatch  mountains  and  the  basin  country  somewhere  near  the 
3l\\i  parallel,  reaching  the  settled  parts  of  California,  near 
Monterey.  There  is,  I  think,  a  pass  in  the  Sierra  Nevada 
between  the  STth  and  38th,  which  I  wish  to  examine.  The 
party  is  in  good  spirits  and  good  health  ;  we  have  a  small  store 
of  ]»rovisioiis  for  hard  times,  and  our  instruments,  barometer 
included,  all  in  good  order.  We  a»'e  always  up  an  hour  or  two 
before  light,  and  the  breakfasts  are  all  over,  and  the  camp  pre- 
paring to  move,  before  sunrise.  This  breakfasting  before  day- 
light, with  the  thermometer  ranging  from  12°  to  18°,  is  a  some- 
what startling  change  from  tlie  pleasant  breakfast-table  in  your 
stove-warmed  house.  I  think  that  I  shall  never  cross  the  con- 
tinent again,  except  at  Panama.  I  do  not  feel  the  pleasure  that 
I  used  to  have  in  those  labors,  as  they  remain  inseparably  con^ 
nected  with  painful  circumstances,  due  mostly  to  them.  It  needs 
strong  incitements  to  undergo  the  hardships  and  self-denial  of 
this  kind  of  life,  and  as  I  iind  I  liave  these  no  longer,  I  wiil  drop 
into  a  quiet  life.  Should  we  have  reasonable  success,  we  shall 
bo   in  California  early  in  January,  say  about  the  8th,  where  I 


I-OL'KllI    KXI'LOIilN'a    KXTKIMTION. 


^01 


hliiill  expect  to  hour  from  all  by  the  ste.iinor.     Piefcrrinij  you  for 
odicr  (.lutails  to  Jessio,  to  ^vllom  I  have  written  at  leiii^th, 

"  1  reiuain,  most  atlei'tionaU'ly  yours, 

"J.  C.  FjiEMONT." 


(I  with 
ily  the 
am  in 
e  shall 
be  Del 
■OSS  the 
ear  the 
a,  near 
Nevada 
The 
1  store 
onu'tcr 
or  two 
i[)  |>re- 
e  day- 
i  some- 
n  your 
16  con- 
ire  that 
ly  conr 
t  needs 
nial  of 
U  drop 
e  shall 
here  I 


"Arrived  at  Pueblos  on  the  Upper  Arkansas,  the  last  of 
Novembei',"  says  Col.  Uenton,*  "  al,  the  base  of  the  first  sierra  to 
be  crossed,  luminous  with  snow,  and  stern  in  their  doininatirig 
look,  he  dismounted,  his  whole  company  took  to  their  feet,  and 
wadini^  waist  dee})  in  flie  vast  unbroken  snow-field,  arrived  on 
the  other  side  in  the  beautiful  valley  of  San  Luis;  but  still  (»n 
the  eastern  side  of  the  threat  mountain  chain  which  divide  the 
waters  -which  ran  east  and  west  to  the  risiuLT  '"xud  settinnf  sun. 
At  the  head  of  that  valley  was  the  I'ass,  dcsi-ribed  to  him  by 
the  old  hunters.  With  his  g^lasso  lie  could  see  the  depression 
in  the  mountain  which  nuuked  its  place,  lie  had  taken  a  hxal 
guide  from  the  Pueblo  San  Carlos  to  lead  him  to  that  Pass.  lUit 
this  precaution  for  safety  was  the  passport  to  disaster,  lie  was 
behind,  with  his  faithful  draughtsman,  Preuss,  wdien  he  saw  his 
guide  leading  the  company  towards  a  mass  of  mountains  to  the 
left;  he  rode  up  and  stopped  them,  remonstrated  with  the  guide 
ff-r  two  hours,  and  then  yielded  to  his  positive  assertion  that  the 
pass  was  there.  The  company  entered  a  tortuous  gorge,  follow- 
iug  a  valley  tlirongh  which  ran  a  head  stream  of  the  great  river 
Del  Norte.  Finally  they  came  to  whore  the  ascent  was  to  begin, 
and  the  summit  range  crossed.  The  snow  was  deep,  the  cold 
intense,  the  acclivity  steep,  and  the  huge  rocks  projei;ting.  The 
ascent  was  commenced  in  the  morninix,  struii-oied  with  durinj: 
the  day,  an  elevation  reached  at  which  vegetation  (wood)  c(;aseM', 
and  the  summit  in  view,  when,  buried  in  snow,  exhausted  wilh 
fatigue,  freezing  with  cold,  and  incapable  of  further  exertion,  lii.; 
order  was  given  to  fall  back  to  the  lino  of  vegetatiuti,  were  woe.  i 
would  adbrd  a  lire  and  shelter  them  for  the  night.  AVitli  gre^'t 
care   the  animals   were   saved  I'rom   freezing,   and   at  the  tirsi 

*■■  Tliirty  Years  View,  vol    ii.  i>.  Tl'.'. 


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23  WEST  MAIN  STREET 

WEBSTER,  N.Y.  14580 

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LIFE   A:s'D    services  of  JOHN   C.    FREMONT. 


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(lawn  of  clay  the  camp,  after  a  daybreak  breakfast,  were  in 
motion  for  the  ascent.  .Precautions  had  been  taken  to  make  it 
more  practicable.  Mauls,  prepared  during  the  night,  were 
<;arried  by  the  foremost  division  to  beat  down  a  road  in  the 
snow.  Men  went  forward  by  relieves.  Mauls  and  bai;ij:au-'j 
followed  in  long  single  file,  in  the  tract  made  in  the  snow.  The 
mountain  was  scaled — the  region  of  perpetual  congelation, 
"was  entered.  It  was  the  winter  solstice,  and  a  place  where  the 
summer  solstice  brought  no  life  to  vegetation — no  thaw  to  con- 
gelation. The  summit  of  tlie  sierra  was  bare  of  everything  but 
snow,  ice  and  rocks.  It  was  no  place  to  halt.  I'ushing  down 
the  side  of  the  mountain  to  reach  the  wood,  three  miles  distant, 
anew  and  awful  danger  presented  itself:  a  snow  storm  raging, 
the  freezing  winds  beating  upon  the  exj)Osed  caravan,  the  snow 
became  too  deep  for  the  mules  to  move  in,  and  the  cold  beyond 
the  endurance  of  animal  life.  The  one  hundred  and  twenty 
mules,  huddling  together  from  an  instinct  of  self-preservation 
from  each  other's  heat  and  shelter,  froze  stiff  as  they  stood,  and 
fell  over  like  blocks,  to  become  hillocks  of  snow.  Leavino:  all 
behind,  and  the  men's  lives  to  be  saved,  the  discomfited  and 
freezing  jiarty  scrambled  back,  recrossing  the  summit,  and  find- 
ing under  the  lee  of  the  mountain  some  shelter  from  the  driving 
storm,  and  in  the  wood  that  was  reached,  the  means  of  making 
fires. 

"The  men's  lives  were  now  saved,  but  they  were  destitute  of 
everything,  only  a  remnant  of  provisions,  and  not  even  the  resource 
of  the  dead  mules,  which  were  on  the  other  side  of  the  summit; 
and  the  distance  computed  at  ten  days'  travel  to  the  nearest 
New  Mexican  settlement.  The  guide  and  three  picked  men  were 
dispatched  thither  for  some  supplies,  and  twenty  days  fixed  for 
their  return.  When  they  had  gone  sixteen  days,  Fremont,  preyed 
upon  by  anxiety  and  misgiving,  set  ofi"  after  them  on  foot,  snow 
to  the  waist,  blankets  and  some  morsels  of  food  on  the  back  :  the 
brave  Godey,  his  draughtsman,  Preuss,  and  a  fiiithful  servant,  his 
only  company.     When  out  six  days,  he  came  upon  tlie  camp  of 


FOURTH    EXPLORING    EXPEDITION. 


)reyed 
snow 
tho 
It,  liis 

flip  of 


liis  guide,  stationary  and  apparently  witnout  pain  or  ol'jecf, 
and  tlie  men,  wild  and  emaciated.  Not  seeincf  Kincr,  tlie  princi- 
pal one  of  tlie  company,  and  on  whom  lie  relied,  he  asked  for 
liim.  They  pointed  to  an  older  camp,  a  little  way  ott".  Going 
there  he  found  the  man  dead,  and  horribly  devoured.  He  had 
died  of  e.xliaustion,  of  fatigue,  and  lii.s  comrades  fed  upon  him. 
Gathering  up  these  three  survivors,  Fremont  resumed  his  jour- 
ney, and  had  not  gone  far  before  he  fell  on  signs  of  Indians — 
two  lodges,  implying  tifteon  or  twenty  men,  and  some  forty 
or  fifty  horses — all  recently  passed  along.  At  another  time  this 
would  have  been  an  alarm,  one  of  his  fears  being  that  of  falling 
in  with  a  war  party.  He  knew  not  Avhat  Indians  they  were,  but 
all  were  hostile  in  that  quarter,  and  evasion  was  the  only  secu- 
rity against  them.  To  avoid  their  course  was  his  obvious 
resource  :  on  the  contrary  he  followed  it ;  for  sucii  was  the  des- 
peration of  his  situation  that  even  a  chance  of  danger  liad  an 
attraction.  Pursuing  tlie  trail  down  the  Del  Norte,  then  frozen 
solid  over,  and  near  the  place  where  Pike  liad  encamped  in  the 
winter  of  1807-8,  they  saw  an  Indian  behind  his  party,  stopped 
to  get  water  from  an  air  hole.  He  was  cautiously  approached, 
circumvented  and  taken.  Fremont  told  him  his  name :  tho 
young  man,  for  he  was  quite  young,  started,  and  asked  him  if  he 
was  the  Fremont  that  exchanged  presents  with  the  chief  of  the 
Utahs,  at  Les  Veges  de  Santa  Clara,  three  years  before  ?  Ho 
was  answered,  '  Yes.' 

"'Then,' said  the  young  man,  'we  are  friends:  that  chief 
is  my  fiither,  and  I  reme;nber  you.' 

"  The  incident  was  romantic ;  but  it  did  not  stop  here. 
Though  on  a  war  inroad  upon  the  frontiers  of  New  Mexico,  the 
young  diief  became  his  guide,  let  him  have  four  horses,  con- 
ducted him  to  the  neighborhood  of  the  settlements,  and  then 
took  his  leave  to  resume  his  scheme  of  depredation  on  the  fron- 
tier. 

"  Fremont's  party  reached  Taos,  was  sheltered  in  the  house  of 
his  old  friend  Carson — obtaining  the  siipplifs  neoded — sent  them 


301 


LIFE   AND   SERVICES   OF   JOHN   C.    FRKMONT. 


I '   i  M 


f    I.' 


^ ::  ii: 


,    3:; 


if-    I 


back  by  llio  brave  Godoy,  who  was  in  time  to  save  two-thirds 
of  the  party,  fiiuling  the  other  third  dead  upon  the  road,  scat- 
tered at  intervals  as  each  had  sunk  exhausted  and  frozen,  or 
litilf  burned  in  the  fire  which  had  been  kindled  for  them  to  die 
by.  The  survivors  were  brought  in  by  Godey,  some  crippled  with 
frozen  feet.  Fremont  found  himself  in  a  situation  which  tries 
the  soul — which  makes  the  issue  between  despair  and  heroism — 
and  leaves  no  alternative  but  to  sink  under  fate,  or  to  rise  above 
it.  His  wliole  outfit  was  gone  :  his  valiant  mountain  mon  were 
one  third  dead,  many  crip})led :  he  was  penniless,  and  in  a 
strange  place.  He  resolved  to  go  forward,  nulla  vestigia  rctror- 
suni :  to  raise  another  outfit,  and  turn  the  mountains  by  the  Gila. 
In  a  few  days  it  was  done — men,  liorses,  arms,  provisions,  all  ac- 
quired :  and  the  expedition  resumed. 

"  But  it  was  no  longer  the  tried  band  of  mountain  men  ol. 
whose  vigilance,  skill  and  courage  he  could  rely  to  make  their 
way  through  hostile  tribes.  They  were  new  men,  and  to  avoitl 
danger,  not  to  overcome  it,  was  his  resource.  The  Navahoes  and 
Apaches  had  to  be  passed  and  eluded,  a  thing  difficult  to  be 
done,  as  his  party  of  thirty  men  and  double  as  many  horses 
would  make  a  trail  easy  to  be  followed  in  the  snow,  though  not 
deep.  He  took  an  unfrequented  course,  and  relied  upon  the 
secrecy  and  celerity  of  his  movements.  The  fourth  night  on 
the  dangerous  ground,  the  horses,  picketed  without  the  camj), 
gave  signs  of  alarm.  They  were  brought  within  the  square  of 
fires,  and  the  men  put  on  the  alert.  Daybreak  came  without 
visible  danger.  The  camp  moved  oft";  a  man  lagged  a  little 
behind,  contrary  to  injunctions,  the  crack  of  some  ritles  sent 
him  running  up.  It  was  then  dear  that  they  were  discovered, 
and  a  party  hovering  round  them.  Two  Indians  were  seen 
ahead ;  they  might  be  a  decoy,  or  a  watch,  to  keep  the  party  in 
view  until  the  neighboring  warriors  could  come  in.  Evasion 
was  no  longer  possible ;  fighting  was  out  of  the  question,  for  the 
whole  hostile  country  was  ahead,  and  narrow  defiles  to  be 
passed  in   the  mountains.     All  ciopended  upon  the  address  of 


^ 


FOURTH   KXPI.ORINr;    EXPEDITION. 


o')0 


their  commander.  Relying  upon  his  ascemlency  over  the  savajije 
luiiid,  Fremont  took  liis  interpreter,  and  went  to  the  two  In^linns. 
Godey  said  he  sliould  not  go  alone,  and  Ibllowed.  Approaching 
thein,  a  deep  ravine  was  seen  between.  The  Indians  beckoned 
liim  to  go  round  by  the  liead  of  the  ravine,  evidently  to  place 
that  obstacle  between  him  and  his  men.  Symptoms  of  fear  or 
distrust  would  mar  his  scheme,  so  he  went  boldly  round,  accosted 
them  confidentially,  and  told  his  name.  They  had  never  heard 
it.  He  told  them  they  ought  to  bo  ashamed  not  to  know  their 
best  friend  ;  enquiring  for  their  tribe,  which  he  wished  to  see : 
and  took  the  whole  air  of  confidence  and  friendship.  He  saw 
they  were  staggered.  He  then  invited  them  to  go  to  his 
camp,  where  the  men  had  halted,  and  take  breakfast  with  him. 
They  said  that  might  be  dangerous,  that  they  had  shot  at  one 
of  his  men  that  morning,  and  might  have  killed  him,  and  now 
be  punished  for  it.  He  ridiculed  the  idea  of  their  Imrting  liis 
men,  charmed  tliera  into  the  camp,  where  they  ate,  and  smoked, 
and  told  their  secret,  and  became  messengers  to  lead  their  tribe 
in  one  direction,  while  Fremont  and  his  men  escaped  by  another, 
and  the  whole  expedition  went  through  without  loss,  and  with- 
out molestation." 


Immediately  upon  his  arrival  at  Taos  and  while  shar- 
ing the  hospitality  of  his  faithful  friend  Carson,  he  ad- 
dressed tlie  following  letter  to  his  wife,  and  for  its  length, 
we  scarcely  know  a  more  thrilling  record  of  personal 
adventui-e  in  our  language : 


: 


LETTER  FROM  COL.  FREMONT  TO  HIS  WIFE. 

"  Taos,  New  Mexico,  Jan.  27, 1849. 

"  My  very  dear  Wife  !  I  write  to  you  from  the  house  of  our 
good  fi'iend  Carson.  This  morning  a  cup  of  chocolate  was 
brought  to  mo,  while  yet  in  bed.  To  an  overworn,  overworked, 
much  fatigued,  and  starving  traveller,  these  little  luxuries  of  the 


:i(jG 


IJFK   AND   8KUVICES   OF  JOHN   C.    FREMONT. 


If-' 


i    I 


■|        ! 


>.;!■ 


'.'  ■  I'.' 


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1 

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'if 

■  !     ' 
'      ,1 

world  ofl'or  an  I'nterost  wliicli  in  your  comfortable  home  it  is  not 
possible  for  you  to  conceive.  Wliilo  in  the  enjoyment  of  this 
luxury,  then,  I  j)leasetl  myself  in  imai(ining  how  t,n'atifie<l  ydu 
Avoukl  be  in  j»icturinrr  me  here  in  Kit's  care,  whom  you  will 
fancy  constantly  occupied  and  constantly  uneasy  in  endeavoring 
to  make  me  comfortable.  How  little  could  you  have  dreamed 
of  this  while  ho  was  enjoying  the  pleasant  l)Os])itality  of  your 
father's  house  !  The  furthest  thing  then  from  your  mind  was 
that  he  would  ever  repay  it  to  me  here. 

"But  I  have  now  the  unpleasant  task  of  tellint]:  you  liow  I 
came  here.  I  had  much  rather  write  vou  some  rambliiio:  letters 
in  unison  with  the  repose  in  which  I  feel  inclined  to  indulge, 
and  talk  to  yoji  about  the  future  with  which  I  am  already  busily 
occupied;  about  my  arrangements  forgetting  speedily  down  into 
the  more  pleasant  climate  of  the  lower  Del  Norte  and  rapidly 
through  into  California;  and  my  plans  when  I  get  there.  I 
have  an  almost  invincible  repugnance  to  going  back  among 
scenes  where  I  have  endured  much  suffering,  and  for  all  the  in- 
cidents and  circumstances  of  which  I  feel  a  strong  aversion.  But 
as  clear  information  is  absolutely  necessary  to  you,  and  to  your 
father  more  particularly  still,  I  will  give  you  the  story  now  in- 
stead of  waiting  to  tell  it  to  you  in  California.  But  I  write  in 
the  great  hope  that  you  will  not  receive  this  letter.  When  it 
reaches  Washington  you  may  be  on  your  way  to  California. 

"  Former  letters  have  made  you  acquainted  with  our  journey 
so  far  as  Bent's  Fort,  and  from  report  you  will  have  heard  the 
circumstances  of  our  departure  from  the  Upper  Pueblo  of  the 
Arkansas.  We  left  that  place  about  the  2oth  of  November, 
with  upwards  of  a  hundred  good  mules  and  one  hundred  and 
thirty  bushels  of  shelled  corn,  intended  to  support  our  animals 
across  the  snow  of  the  high  mountairs,  and  down  to  the  lower 
parts  of  the  Grand  River  tributaries,  where  usually  the  snow 
forms  no  obstacle  to  winter  travelling.  At  the  Pueblo,  I  liad 
engaged  as  a  guide  an  old  trapper  well  known  as  '  Bill  Wil- 
liams,' and  who  had  spent  some  twenty-five  years  of  his  life  in 


FOURTH    EXPLORING    EXrEDITION. 


O    1- 


trappinc;  various  parts  of  the  Rocky  ^fouIlt.'li^s.  Tlio  error  of 
our  journey  was  committed  in  engaiMng  this  man.  lla  pnnc'l 
never  to  have  in  the  k;ast  known,  or  entirely  to  liave  t'orgotti-n, 
tho  whole  reijiou  of  country  chroiii^h  whicii  we  were  to  pass. 
We  occupied  more  than  half  a  month  in  making  the  journey 
of  a  few  days,  blundering  a  tortuous  way  tlirou^h  <'eep  snow 
which  already  began  to  choke  up  the  passes,  for  which  we  were 
obliijed  to  waste  time  in  searching.  About  the  11th  Decemlx^r 
',ve  found  ourselves  at  the  North  of  the  Del  Norte  Canon,  whor*^ 
that  river  issues  from  the  St.  John's  Mountain,  one  of  the  high- 
est, most  rugged  and  impracticable  of  all  the  Rocky  Mountain 
ranges,  inaccessible  to  trappers  and  hunters  even  in  the  sunnner 
time.  Across  the  })oint  of  this  elevated  range  our  guide  con- 
ducted us,  and  having  still  great  confidence  in  his  knowledge, 
we  pressed  onwards  with  fatal  resolution.  P^ven  along  the 
river  bottoms  the  snow  was  already  belly  deep  for  tlie  mules, 
frequently  snowing  in  the  valley  and  almost  constantly  in  th-e 
mountains.  Tlie  cold  was  extraordinary ;  at  the  warmest 
liours  of  the  day  (between  one  and  two)  the  thermometer 
(Fahreidieit)  standing  in  the  shade  of  only  a  tree  tmnk  at 
zero ;  tlie  day  sunshiny,  with  a  moderate  breeze.  We  pressed 
up  towards  the  summit,  the  snow  deepening;  and  in  four  or 
five  days  reached  the  naked  ridges  which  lie  above  the  tim- 
bered country,  and  which  form  the  dividing  grounds  between 
the  waters  of  the  Atlantic  and  Pacific  oceans.  Along  these 
naked  ridges,  it  storms  nearly  all  winter,  and  the  winds  sweep 
across  them  with  remorseless  fury.  On  our  first  attempt  to 
cross  we  encountered  a  jyoudcrle  (<lry  snow  driven  thick 
through  the  air  by  violent  wind,  and  in  which  objects  are 
visible  only  at  a  short  distan(;e),  and  were  driven  back,  liav- 
ing  some  10  or  12  men  variously  frozen,  face,  Iiands,  or  feet. 
The  o-uide  became  niofh  being  frozen  to  death  here,  nml  dead 
mules  were  already  lying  about  the  tires.  Meantime,  it  snowed 
steadily.  The  next  day  we  made  mauls,  and  beating  a  road 
or  trench   through  the  snow  crossed  the  crest  in  detiance  of 


/ 


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IJFE    ANT)   BERVTOEfl   OF   .TOHN   f!.    FRKMONT. 


llio  poudcridy  and  encamped  immediately  below  in  the  edi^e 
of  the  timber.  The  trail  showed  as  if  a  defeated  party  had 
passed  by ;  pack -saddles  and  packs,  scattered  articles  of  cloth- 
ing, and  dead  mules  strewed  along.  A  continuance  of  stormy 
weather  paralyzed  all  movement.  Wo  were  encamped  some- 
where about  12,000  feet  above  the  sea.  Westward,  the  coun- 
try was  buried  in  deep  snow.  It  was  iinpossible  to  advance, 
and  to  turn  back  was  equally  impracticable.  Wo  were  over- 
tnken  by  sudden  and  inevitable  ruin.  It  so  happened  that 
the  only  j  laces  wLore  any  grrss  could  be  had  wore  the  ex- 
treme summit  of  the  ridges,  \,\xQvq  the  sweeping  winds  kept 
the  rocky  ground  bare  and  the  snow  could  not  lie.  Below 
these,  animals  could  not  get  about,  the  snow  being  deep 
enough  to  bury  them.  Here,  therefore,  in  tlte  full  violence 
of  the  storms  wo  were  obliged  to  keep  our  animals.  They 
could  not  be  moved  either  Avay.  It  was  instantly  apparent 
that  we  should  lose  every  animaL 

"  I  determined  to  recross  the  mountain  more  towards  the 
open  country,  and  haul  or  pack  the  baggage  (by  men)  down  to 
the  Del  Norte.  With  great  labor  the  baggage  was  transported 
across  the  crest  to  tl>e  head  springs  of  a  little  stream  leading  to 
the  main  river.  A  few  days  were  sufficient  to  destroy  our  fine 
band  of  mules.  They  generally  kept  huddled  together,  and  aa 
they  froze,  one  would  be  seen  to  tumble  down  and  the  snow 
would  cover  him ;  sometimes  they  would  break  off  and  rush 
down  towards  the  timber  until  they  were  stopped  by  the  deep 
snow,  where  they  were  soon  hidden  by  the  pouderU.  The 
courage  of  the  men  failed  fast ;  in  fact,  I  have  never  seen  men 
so  soon  discC'Uraged  by  misfortune  as  we  were  on  this  occasion  ; 
but,  as  you  know,  the  party  was  not  constituted  like  the  former 
ones.  But  among  those  who  deserve  to  be  honorably  mentioned 
and  who  behaved  like  what  they  were — men  of  the  old  explor- 
ing party, — were  Godey,  King,  and  Taplin;  and  first  of  all  Godey. 
In  this  situation,  I  determined  to  send  in  a  party  to  the  Spanish 
settlements  of  New  Mexico  for  provisions  and  mules  to  transport. 


tlie  edge 
party  lm<l 
J  of  doili- 
of  stormy 
ped  soine- 
^  the  coun- 
3  advance, 
were  over- 
pened  that 
jre  the  ex- 
winds  kept 
lie.     Below 
being    deep 
ull  violence 
mals.    They 
tly  apparent 

towards  the 
,en)  down  to 
i  transported 
m  leading  to 
itroy  our  fine 
rether,  and  as 
and  the  snow 
off  and  rush 
1  by  the  deep 
mderie.     The 
ver  seen  men 
this  occasion ; 
ke  the  former 
ably  mentioned 
he  old  explor- 
rst  of  all  Godey. 
to  the  Spanish 
lies  to  transport. 


•^ 


I 


'M 


TKHKIPIC     SNOW    STORM     ON     TIIK    UOCKY     MdlN  1' AINS— (.  (il..      KKK.MONT     KKKPS     (■IIKI.SIM  Afi 

KKiDINU    liLAl.'KSldNl: — I'AHl;   otlD. 


.1 


'*- 


iS^ 


IKISl  MA!< 


FOURTH   EXPLORING    EXPEDITION. 


3G9 


our  bajTiracfc  to  T.ios.  "With  ooonoinv,  aiid  after  wo  sliouM  lo.ivo 
the  mules,  wo  had  not  two  weeks'  ))i'()visions  in  the  camp.  Tlieso 
consi.sti!(l  of  a  store  which  I  hml  reserve<l  for  a  haitl  day, 
macaroni  and  bacon.  From  anutnLj  tho  vohmtecrs  1  tliuo.so 
King,  lJra(;kenridL,%  Creut/.feldt,  and  tho  j^'uide  WilliamH;  tho 
party  under  tho  command  of  Kini^.  In  caio  of  tho  least  delay 
at  the  settlements,  ho  was  to  send  mo  an  express.  In  tho  mean- 
time, wo  wore  to  occupy  ourselves  in  removing  tho  bajifi^aj^'o  and 
equipago  down  to  tho  Del  Norte,  which  wo  readied  with  our 
baggage  in  a  few  days  after  their  departure  (svhi'di  vas  the  day 
after  Christmas).  Like  many  a  Christmas  tor  ye:irs  back,  mine 
was  spent  on  tho  summit  of  a  wintry  mountain,  my  heart  filled 
with  gloomy  and  anxious  tliouglits,  with  none  of  tho  merry  faces 
and  pleasant  luxuries  that  belong  to  that  happy  time.  You  may 
bo  sure  we  contrasted  much  this  with  tho  last  at  Washington, 
and  speculated  much  on  your  doings,  and  mndo  many  warm 
wishes  for  your  happiness.  Could  you  liave  looked  into 
Agrippa's  glass  for  a  fow  moments  only  !  You  remend)er  tho 
volumes  of  Blackstone  which  I  took  from  your  father's  library 
when  wo  were  overlooking  it  at  our  iViend  Brant's?  Tlusy 
made  my  Cliristmas  anmsements.  I  read  them  to  pass  (he 
heavy  time  and  forget  what  was  arouml  me.  Certainly  you 
may  suppose  tliat  my  first  law  lessons  will  bo  well  rememhered. 
Day  after  day  passed  by  and  no  news  tVom  our  ex[)ress  party. 
Snow  continued  to  fall  almost  incessantly  on  tho  mountain. 
The  spirits  of  the  camp  grew  lower.  Prone  laid  down  in  tlio 
trail  and  froze  to  death.  In  a  sunshiny  day,  and  having  with 
him  means  to  make  a  fire,  he  threw  his  blankets  down  in  the  trail 
and  laid  there  till  he  froze  to  death.  After  sixteen  days  liad 
elapsed  from  King's  departure,  I  became  so  uneasy  at  the  delay 
that  I  decided  to  wait  no  longer.  I  was  aware  that  our  troops 
had  been  eno-ao-ed  in  hostilities  with  the  Spanish  Utalis  and 
Apaches,  who  range  in  the  North  River  valley,  and  became 
fearful  that  they  (King's  party)  hail  been  cut  ofi"  by  tliese 
Indians;  I  could  imagine  no  other  accident.     Leaving  tho  camp 


d; 


-!fr 


370 


MKK    AND    KKUVICKS   OF   J(JHN    0.    FKLMONT. 


«(  '  .  I 


li-   *l 


'Hi 

1 

m 

J      i 

|M 

i  ?  ' 

ill  l'  1 

oniploycd  witli  the  baG:,<,'n2o  and  in  cliargo  of  Mr.  Vincontlialor, 
1  starkMl  down  tlio  rivor  witli  a  small  jKirty  consistitij^  of  (iudcy, 
(with  liis  yoiiiitr  nophew),  Mr.  I'rouss  and  Saunders.  Wo 
ctarricd  our  arms  and  jirovisjon  for  two  or  throo  days.  In  the 
camp  llio  nM'sst's  had  provisions  tor  two  or  three  meals,  more  or 
K'ss ;  and  ahout  tive  pounds  of  sui^ar  to  each  man.  J''ailiniif  to 
met't  Kint;,  my  intention  was  to  make  the  Ked  River  settlement 
about  twenty-five  miles  north  of  Taos,  and  send  hack  tlio 
speediest  relief  possible.  My  instrnctions  to  the  camp  were, 
that  if  tiny  did  not  hear  from  me  within  a  stated  time,  they 
>vere  to  follow  down  the  Del  Norto. 

*'  On  tiie  second  day  after  leavini^  camp  we  came  upon  a  fresli 
trail  of  Indians — two  lodges,  with  a  considerable  number  of 
ainmals.  This  did  not  lessen  our  uneasiness  for  our  ])eople.  As 
their  trail  when  we  met  it  turned  and  went  down  the  river,  we 
followed  it.  On  the  fifth  day  wo  surprised  an  Indian  on  the  ice 
of  the  river.  lie  proved  to  be  an  Utah,  son  of  a  Grand  Jiiver  chief 
we  had  formerly  known,  and  behaved  to  us  in  a  friendly  man- 
ner. AVo  encamped  near  them  at  night.  By  a  j)rescnt  of  a 
rifle,  my  two  blankets,  and  other  pr.imised  rewards  when  we 
should  get  in,  I  prevailed  upon  this  Indian  to  go  with  us  as  a 
guide  to  the  Ketl  River  settlement,  and  take  with  him  four  of 
liis  horses,  principally  to  carry  our  little  baggage.  These  were 
wretchedly  poor,  and  could  get  along  only  In  a  very  slow  walk. 
On  that  day  (the  sixth)  we  left  the  lodges  late,  and  travelled 
only  some  six  or  seven  miles.  About  sunset  we  (tiscovered  a 
little  smoke,  in  a  grove  of  timber  off  from  the  river,  and  think- 
ing perha}>s  it  might  be  our  express  party  on  its  return,  we  went 
to  see.  This  was  the  twenty-second  day  since  they  had  left  us, 
and  the  sixth  since  we  had  left  the  camp.  We  found  them — 
three  of  them — Creutzfeldt,  Brackenridge,  and  Williams — the 
most  nuserablo  objects  I  have  ever  seen.  I  did  not  rectogtiize 
Creutzfeldt's  features  when  Brackenridge  brought  him  up  to  me 
and  mentioned  his  name.  They  had  been  starving.  King  h;id 
starved  to  death   a  few  days  before.     His  remains  were  some 


ForiMii  i:xpiA)KiN()  i;xiM;DrrroN. 


;^TI 


nix  or  eiiflit  tnilcs  iiltovo,  noar  tlio  river.  Wy  n'u\  of  tlio  Iiorsos, 
wo  cnrriiMl  tlu'sn  tlircc  men  witli  us  to  lU'A  liivfrsottlemeiit,  wliiili 
M(*  rcaclnMl  (.Ijiii.  L'U),  <»ii  tliu  ti'iitli  (MtMiiiiLj  after  leaviiiLj  oiii' 
('aiii|)  ill  tliu  iiioiiiitaiiis,  liaviiii^  travulleil  tliroiii^li  snow  ami  «>ii 
foot  one  iininlnid  .ind  sixty  miles.  I  look  upon  the  anxiety 
wliieli  inilueed  ifw  to  set  out  from  tlm  camp  as  an  inspiraiioii. 
IIa<l  I  r«maineil  tliero  waitinijf  the  party  which  had  been  sent  in, 
every  num  of  us  would  prohaMy  have  perished. 

"'I'he  morniinjf  after  reachini;  the  Ue<l  Kivor  town,  Ciode? 
and  myself  rodo  on  to  the  Ivio  Hondo  and  Taos,  in  search  of 
animals  ami  si.nplios,  and  on  the  se(!onil  oveniiiLf  after  that  on 
whi(tli  wo  had  reached  lied  Jtivur,  (Jodey  liatl  returnoil  to  that 
place  with  about  thirty  animals,  provisions,  atul  four  Mexicans, 
with  which  he  set  out  fur  the  camp  on  tho  followini;  niorniiii;. 
On  tho  road  ho  received  eij^ht  or  ten  others,  which  were  turned 
over  to  him  liy  tlu'  orders  of  Afajor  IJeale,  the  enmmandin'^  olli- 
cer  of  this  northern  district  of  N«'W  Mexii.o.  I  exp<!(;t  that 
(lodey  will  reacli  this  place  with  the  party  on  Wednesday  eve- 
iiinij;,  tho  31st.  From  Major  Ueale  I  received  the  olfer  of  every 
aid  in  ids  power,  and  such  adual  assistance  as  lie  was  able  to 
render.  Some  horses  which  he  had  just  recovered  from  th»3 
Utahs  were  loaned  to  me,  and  he  sui)plied  me  from  tho  commis- 
sary's department  with  provisions  which  I  couhl  have  had 
nowhere  else.  I  find  myself  in  tho  midst  of  fi-it-nds.  With  Carson  is 
living  Owens,  and  Maxwell  is  at  his  father-in-law's,  (hiing  a  veiy 
prosperous  business  as  a  merchant  and  contractor  for  the  troops. 

*■''  Evening.  Mr.  St.  Vrain  and  Aubrey,  who  have  just  arrived 
from  Santa  Fe,  called  to  see  me.  I  had  tlie  pleasure  to  leai'u 
that  Mr.  St.  Vrain  sots  out  from  Santa  Fd  on  the  15th  of  Febru- 
ary, for  St.  Louis,  so  that  by  him  I  liave  an  early  and  certain 
opportunity  of  sending  you  my  letters.  Ijcale  left  Santa  Vv  on 
Ins  journey  to  California  on  the  9th  of  this  month.  He  probably 
carried  on  with  him  any  letters  which  might  have  been  at  Santa 
Fe  for  me.  I  shall  probably  reach  California  with  him  or  shortly 
after  hiin.  Say  to  your  father  that  these  arc  my  phmn  for  tho 
future. 


0  70 


LiFi:  .\ND  st:kvici:8  of  John  c.  fremont. 


"  At  tlio  beginninj^  of  February  (about  Saturday)  I  sball  set 
out  for  California,  taking  the  southern  route,  by  the  Rio  Ahajo 
tiio  ]*aso  del  Norte,  and  the  south  side  of  the  Oila^  entering 
California  at  the  Agua  Caliente,  thence  to  Los  Angeles  and 
iunnediately  north,  i  shall  break  up  my  party  here  and  take 
\vith  me  only  a  few  men.  The  survey  has  been  uninterrupted 
11  j)  to  this  point,  and  I  shall  carry  it  on  consecutively.  As 
soon  as  possible  after  reaching  California  I  v/ill  go  on  with 
the  survey  of  tli3  coast  and  coast  country.  Your  father  knows 
that  this  is  an  object  of  great  desire  with  me,  and  I  trust  it  is 
not  too  much  to  hope  that  he  may  obtain  the  countenance  and 
aid  of  the  Presideni  (whoever  he  maybe)  in  carrying  it  on  efFec- 
t'lally  and  rapidly  to  completion.  For  this  I  hope  earnestly.  I 
shall  then  be  enabled  to  draw  up  a  map  mid  report  on  the  whole 
country,  agreeably  to  our  previous  anticipations.  All  my  other 
plans  remain  cntirebj  unaltered,  I  shall  take  immediate  steps 
to  make  ourselves  a  good  home  in  California,  and  to  have  a 
place  ready  for  your  reception,  which  I  anticipate  for  April. 
My  hopes  and  wishes  are  more  strongly  than  ever  turned  that 
way. 

^^  Mondai/,  29.  My  letter  now  assumes  a  journal  form.  No 
news  yet  from  the  jiarty, — a  great  deal  of  failing  weather;  rain 
and  sleet  here,  and  snow  in  the  mountains.  This  is  to  be  con- 
sidered a  poor  country  ;  mountainous,  with  severe  winters  and 
but  little  arable  land.  To  the  I'nited  States  it  seems  to  me  to 
oiler  little  other  value  than  the  right  of  way.  It  is  throughout 
inl'ested  with  Indians,  with  whom  in  the  course  of  the  present 
year  the  United  Slates  will  be  at  war,  as  well  as  in  the  Oregon 
Territory,  To  hold  this  country  will  occasion  the  government 
great  expense,  and,  certainly,  one  can  see  no  source  of  prolit  or 
advantage  in  it.  An  additional  regiment  will  be  required  for 
special  service  here. 

"  Mr.  vSt.  Vrain  dined  with  us  to-day.  Owens  goes  to  Mis- 
souri in  April  to  get  married,  and  thence  by  water  to  Cali- 
fornia.    Carson  ]•:  V(^i'y  .nnxious  in  go  there  with  me  now,  and 


i 


I 


FOURTH   EXPLORING   EXPEDmON. 


373 


afterwards  remove  his  family  tliitiier,  but  he  cannot  decide  to 
break  otVfrom  Maxwell  and  family  connections. 

"  I  am  anxiously  waiting  to  hear  from  my  party,  in  much  un- 
certainty as  to  their  fate.  My  presence  kept  them  together  and 
quiet,  my  absence  may  have  had  a  bad  elfect.  When  we  over- 
took King's  starving  party,  l^rackenridge  said  that  he  '  would 
rather  have  seen  rae  than  his  father.'     He  felt  himself  safe. 


"  Taos,  New  Mexico,  February  6, 1849. 

"  After  a  long  delay,  which  had  wearied  me  to  a  point  of  re- 
solving to  set  out  again  myself,  tidings  have  at  last  reached  mo 
from  my  ill-fated  party.  Mr.  Ilaler  came  in  last  night,  having 
the  night  before  reached  Red  lliver  settlement,  with  some  three 
or  four  others.  Includinrr  Mr.  Kinff  and  Proue,  we  have  lost 
eleven  of  our  party.  Occurrences  after  l  left  them,  are  briefly 
these,  so  for  as  they  are  within  Ilaler's  knowledge.  I  say  brietly, 
my  dear  Jessie,  because  now  I  am  unwilling  to  force  myself  to 
dwell  upon  particulars.  I  wish  for  a  time  to  shut  out  those 
thino-s  from  mv  mind,  to  leave  this  country,  and  all  thouu-lits 
and  all  things  connected  with  recent  events,  which  have  been 
so  signally  disastrous  as  absolutely  to  astonish  me  with  a  p«M'sis- 
tence  of  misfortune,  which  no  precaution  has  been  ade(iuate  on 
my  part  to  avert. 

*'  You  will  remember  that  I  had  left  the  camp  witli  occupation 
sufficient  to  employ  them  for  three  or  tour  days,  after  which  they 
were  to  follow  me  down  the  river.  Within  that  time  I  had 
expected  the  relief  from  King,  if  it  was  to  come  at  all. 

"They  remained  where  I  had  left  them  seven  days,  and  then 
started  down  the  river.  Manuel — you  will  remember  Manuel, 
the  Cosunme  Indian — gave  way  to  a  feeling  of  tlespair  after  they 
liad  travelled  about  two  miles,  begged  llaler  to  shoot  him,  and 
then  turned  and  made  iiis  way  back  to  the  camp;  inteiuling  to 
die  there,  as  he  doubtless  soon  did.  They  followed  our  trail 
down  the  river — twenty-two  men  they  were  in  all.  About  ten 
miles  below  tlie  camp,  Wise  gave  out,  throw  Mway  his  gun  and 


\-..  • 


ii 


I 


V 


374 


LIFE    AND   8EKVICES   OF   JOHN   C.    FREMONT. 


i'^-   i 


!■  \  i  ' 


1 

m  ' 

'•/^B< '. 

i[Si 

-^-   ■ 

«^Ik9 

'3S'    I 

II 

1:1 

blanket,  and  a  few  hundred  yards  further  fell  over  into  the  snow 
and  died.  Two  Indian  boys,  youni;  men,  countrymen  of  Manuel 
were  bcdiind.  They  rolled  up  AVise  in  his  blanket,  and  buried 
him  in  the  snow  on  the  river  ^  iic.  No  more  died  that  day — 
non'^  the  next.  Carver  raved  during  the  night,  his  imagination 
wholly  occupied  with  images  of  many  things  which  he  fancied 
himself  eating.  In  the  morning,  he  wandered  off  fro!n  the 
party,  and  probably  soon  died.  They  did  not  see  him  again. 
Sorel  on  this  day  gave  out,  and  laid  down  to  die.  They  built 
him  a  fire,  and  Morin,  who  was  in  a  dying  condition,  and  snow- 
blind,  remained.  These  two  did  not  probably  last  till  the  next 
morning.  That  evening,  I  think,  Hubbard  killed  a  deer.  They 
travelled  on,  getting  here  and  there  a  grouse,  but  probably 
nothing  else,  the  snow  having  frightened  oft'  the  game.  Things 
were  desperate,  and  brought  Haler  to  the  determination  of 
breaking  up  the  party,  in  order  to  prevent  the?n  from  living 
upon  each  other,  lie  told  them  '  that  he  had  done  all  he  could 
for  them,  that  they  had  no  other  hope  renuiining  than  the 
expected  relief,  and  that  their  best  plan  was  to  scatter  and  make 
the  best  of  their  way  ir  small  parties  down  the  river.  That,  for 
his  part,  if  he  was  to  be  eaten,  he  would,  at  all  events,  be  found 
travelling  when  he  did  die.'  They  accordingly  separated. 
With  Mr.  llaler  continued  five  others  and  the  two  Indian  boys. 
Rohrer  now  became  very  despondent ;  Haler  encouraged  him 
bv  recallino;  to  mind  his  familv,  and  urijed  him  to  hold  out  a 
little  longer.  On  this  day  he  fell  behind,  but  promised  to  over- 
take them  at  evening.  Haler,  Scott,  Hubbard,  and  Martin 
agreed  that  if  any  one  of  them  should  give  out,  the  others  wei'e 
not  to  wait  for  him  to  die,  but  build  a  fire  for  him,  and  push  on. 
At  night,  Kern's  mess  encamped  a  few  hundred  yards  from 
Haler's,  with  the  intention,  aitcording  to  Taplin,  to  remain  where 
they  were  until  the  relief  should  come,  and  in  the  meantime  to 
live  upon  those  who  had  died,  and  upon  the  weaker  ones  as  they 
should  die.  With  the  three  Kerns  were  Cathcart,  Andrews, 
McKie,  Steppf^rfelilt,  and  Taplin. 


> 


FOUBTH   EXrLOKING    EXPEDITION. 


I'J 


"Ferguson  and  Beadle  had  remained  together  behind.  In 
the  evening,  Rol'.rer  came  up  and  remained  witli  Kern'ss  nibss. 
Mr.  Ilaler  learned  afterwards  from  that  mess  that  Rohrer  and 
Andrews  wandered  otl"  the  next  day  and  died.  They  say  they 
saw  tiieir  bodies.  In  the  morning  llaler's  party  oontinued  on. 
After  a  few  hours,  Hubbard  gave  out.  They  built  him  a  fire, 
gathered  him  some  wood,  and  left  him,  without,  as  Ilaler  says, 
turning  their  heads  to  look  at  him  as  they  went  off.  About 
two  miles  further,  Scott — you  remember  Scott — who  used  to 
shoot  birds  for  you  at  the  frontier — gave  out.  They  did  the 
same  for  him  as  for  Hubbard,  and  continued  on.  In  the  after- 
noon, the  Indian  boys  went  ahead,  and  before  nightfall  met 
Godey  with  the  relief.  Ilaler  heard  and  knew  the  guns  which 
he  fired  for  liim  at  night,  and  starting  early  in  the  morning, 
soon  met  him.  I  hear  that  they  all  cried  together  like  children. 
Haler  turned  back  with  Godey,  and  went  with  him  to  where 
they  had  left  Scott.  He  was  still  ?dive,  and  was  saved.  Hub- 
bard was  dead — still  warm.  From  Kern's  mess  they  learned 
the  death  of  Andrews  and  Rohrer,  and  a  little  above,  met 
Ferguson,  who  told  them  that  Beadle  had  died  the  night 
before. 

*'  Godey  continued  on  with  a  few  New  Mexicans  and  pack 
mules  to  brinof  down  the  baijfraoe  from  the  camp.  Ilaler,  with 
Martin  and  Bacon,  on  foot,  and  bringing  Scott  on  horseback, 
have  first  arrived  at  the  Red  River  settlement.  Provisions  and 
horses  for  them  to  ride  were  left  with  the  others,  who  preferred 
to  rest  on  the  river  until  Godey  came  back.  At  tlie  latest,  they 
they  should  all  have  reached  Red  River  settlement  last  night, 
and  ought  all  to  be  here  this  evening.  When  Godey  arrives,  I 
shall  know  from  him  all  the  circumstances  sufficiently  in  detail 
to  enable  me  to  understand  clearly  everything.  But  it  will  not 
be  necessary  to  tell  you  anything  further.  It  has  been  sufficient 
pain  for  you  to  read  what  I  have  already  written. 

"  As  I  told  you,  I  shall  break  up  my  party  here.  I  have 
engaged  a  Spaniard  to  furnish  mules  to  take  my  little  party 


iif 


376  LIFE   AND   SERVICES   OF   JOHN   C.    FREMONT. 


with  our  baggage,  as  far  down  the  Del  Norte  as  Albuquerque. 
To-morrow  a  friend  sets  out  to  purchase  me  a  few  mules,  with 
which  ho  is  to  meet  me  at  Albuquerque,  aiul  thence  [  continue 
the  journey  on  my  own  animals.  My  road  wili  take  me 
down  the  Del  Norte,  about  160  miles  below  Albuquerque 
and  then  passes  between  this  river  and  the  heads  of  the 
Gila,  to  a  little  Mexican  town  called,  I  think,  Tusson.  Thence 
to  the  mouth  of  the  Gila  and  across  the  Colorado,  direct 
to  Agua  Caliente,  into  California.  I  intend  to  make  the 
journey  rapidly,  and  about  the  middle  of  March  ;  hope  for 
the  great  pleasure  of  hearing  from  home.  I  look  for  a.  large 
supply  of  newspapers  and  documents,  more  perhaps  because 
these  things  have  a  home  look  about  them  than  on  their  own 
account.  When  I  think  of  you  all,  I  feel  a  warm  glow  at  my 
heart,  which  renovates  it  like  a  good  medicine,  and  I  forget 
painful  feelings  in  strong  hope  for  the  future.  We  shall  yet, 
dearest  wife,  enjoy  quiet  and  happiness  together — these  are 
nearly  one  and  the  same  to  me  now.  I  make  frequently  pleasant 
pictures  of  the  happy  home  wo  are  to  have,  and  oftenest  and 
among  the  pleasantest  of  all  I  see,  our  library  with  its  bright  fii'o 
in  the  rainy  stormy  days,  and  the  large  windows  looking  out 
upon  the  sea  iu  the  bright  weather.  I  have  it  all  planned  in  my 
own  mind.  It  is  getting  late  now.  La  llarpe  says  that  there 
are  two  gods  which  are  very  dear  to  us,  Hope  and  Sleep.  My 
homage  shall  be  equally  divided  between  them  ;  both  make  the 
time  pass  lightly  until  I  see  you.  So  I  go  now  to  pay  a  willing 
tribute  to  one  with  my  heart  full  of  the  other." 

On  arriving  at  Sicorro,  ho  addressed  the  following 
letter  to  Colonel  Benton  : 


LETTER  FROM  COL.  FREMONT  TO    COL.  BENTON. 

SocoRuo,  Rio  del  Norte,  February  24,  1S49. 

My  Dear  Sir  :  I  write  a  lire  from  this  place  in  the  hope  that 
by  way  of  Chihuahua  and  Vera  Cruz,  it  will  reach  you  sooner 


^s 


ce  the 


Wing 


FOURTH   EXPLORING    EXPEDITION. 


•  >  <  I 


than  letters  by  tlm  direct  mail  from  Santa  F(5,  and  so  ho  in 
advance  of  exaggerated  reports  of  the  events  which  have 
delayed  my  journey,  and  turned  mo  in  this  direction.  Letters 
which  I  have  forwarded  by  Mr.  St.  Vrain,  will  inform  you  that 
we  were  overtaken  and  surrounded  by  deep  and  impracticable 
snows  in  the  Kocky  Mountains  at  the  head  of  the  Del  Norte. 
AVe  lost  all  our  animals  and  ten  men,  the  mules  frozen,  and  the 
men  starved  to  death.  Prone  only  excepted.  He  was  frozen. 
The  miscarriage  of  an  express  party,  sent  in  under  Mr.  King,  was 
a  secondary  cause  of  our  greatest  calamity  in  the  loss  of  our  men. 
In  six  days  after  leaving  my  camp  in  the  mountains,  I  over- 
took his  party,  they  having  been  out  t'.venty-two  days,  and  King 
having  been  starved  to  death.  In  four  days  afterwards  I  reached 
the  settlements,  in  time  to  save  many,  but  too  laie  to  rescue  all 
the  men.  Relief  was  immediatelv  sent  back,  but  did  not  meet 
them  in  time  to  save  all.  An  attempt,  made  with  fresh  animals, 
to  get  our  baggage  out  of  tlie  snow,  failed  entirely,  resulting 
only  in  the  loss  of  ten  or  twelve  animals  more.  On  the  main 
river  bott-^ms  at  the  foot  of  the  mountains,  the  snow  was  five 
feet  deep,  and  in  the  mountains  impassable.  Camp  furniture  of 
all  descriptions,  saddles,  pack-saddles,  &c.,  clothes,  money,  &c., 
all  lost.  I  had  the  good  fortune  to  recover  one  of  my  baggage 
trunks,  which  Jessie  will  remember  to  have  packed  for  me,  and 
so  saved  some  clothes,  &c.  My  instruments,  which  I  always 
carry  with  rae,  were  in  greater  part  saved. 

"The  officers  of  the  army  stationed  in  the  country  have  been 
uniformly  prompt  and  liberal  in  their  attentions  to  mo,  offering 
me  all  the  assistance  in  their  p^wer.  In  this  countrv,  where 
supplies  are  scarce  and  extravagantly  high,  this  assistance  was 
of  great  value  to  mo  in  prosecuting  my  journey.  Among  those 
whom  I  ought  particularly  to  mention  is  Major  Beale,  who  is  in 
command  of  the  Northern  District,  Capt.  Judd,  Lieut.  Thomas, 
Dr.  Webb,  and  Capt.  liuford.  I  mention  their  names  particu- 
larly, knowing  that  you  will  take  pleasure  in  reciprocating  it  to 
them.     Colonel  Washington  desired  me  to  call  on  him  wi^^'m^t 


378 


LIFE   AND    SKKVICK8   OF   JOHN    C.    FRICMOXT. 


i'!      1 


.1 


reserve  for  anything  at  his  command.  He  invited  nie  to  dine 
witii  him  one  out  of  the  two  days  I  spent  at  Sante  Fe,  and  dined 
v/ith  me  at  the  ofticers'  quarters  on  the  other.  Major  Weijj^ht- 
man  (of  Washington,  son-indaw  of  Mr.  Cox)  was  very  friendly 
in  his  attentions  to  me,  and  Capt.  Brent,  of  tlie  quartermaster's 
deputy,  gave  me  some  most  eft'ectiv*  aid  in  my  equipment. 
Among  the  citizens  who  have  treated  mo  with  some  attention,  I 
make  it  a  duty  to  recommend  to  your  attention,  wlien  you  may 
meet  him,  our  fellovr-citizen  of  St.  Louis,  Mr.  F.  X.  Aubry.  You 
will  renunnber  him  as  havincf  lately  made  an  extraordinary  ride 
from  Sante  F6  to  Independence.  We  have  been  travelling 
together  from  Santa  ¥6  to  this  place.  Among  other  acts 
of  kindness,  I  received  from  him  a  loan  of  $1000,  to  purchase 
animals  for  my  journey  to  California. 

"  I  reached  this  town  at  half-past  eight  o'clock  this  morning, 
by  appointment  to  breakfast.  Capt.  Bufon^,  who  commands 
here,  received  me  with  much  kindness,  and  I  am  staying  with 
him.  This  is  a  militp.ry  post,  and  with  the  exception  of  a  little 
village  or  two,  a  few  miles  below,  the  last  settlement  we  see 
until  reaching  Tusson,  even  should  we  pass  by  that  route.  Wo 
go  on  tliis  afternoon,  and  perhaps  reach  California  in  twenty-live 
days.  The  weather  here  is  warm,  and  the  people  engaged  in 
opening  the  ground  for  sowing.  I  will  write  a  brief  note  to 
Jessie,  and  conclude  this,  as  I  shall  be  much  pressed  to  get 
through  the  business  set  apart  for  this  day. 

"  Very  affectionately, 

"  J.  C.  Fremont. 
"  Hon,  Thomas  H.  Benton,  Washington  City." 


\i    i: 


1' 

■t 

i 

M 

- 

MAHirOSAS. 


3T0 


CHAPTER  Xiy. 

FREMONT    SETTLES  IN  MARIPOSAS CAUSE   OF   INDIAN    HOSTI- 
LITIES— TITLE    TO    MAliirOSAS ORIGINAL    DEED     OF    THE 

ESTATE — ^TITLE  QUESTIONED  AND  RESISTED  BY  CALEB 
CUSHING — CONFIRMED  BY  THE  U.  S.  SUPRIOME  COURT 
OPINION  OF  CHIEF  JUSTICE  TANEY — RECEIVES  THE  AP- 
POINTMENT OF  MEXICAN  BOUNDARY  COMMISSIONER — HIS 
MAGNANIMITY  TO  COL.  WELLER  — FIRST  POLITICAL  LE'lTER 
^ELECTED  TO  THE  UNITED  STATES  SENATE. 


Col.  Fremont  had  arrived  in  California  witli  the 
intention  of  making  it  his  future  home.  By  a  judicious 
investment  of  about  $3,000  in  1817,  he  luid  hecome 
the  proprietor  of  one  of  the  most  valuable  tracts 
of  land,  for  its  size,  in  the  world,  the  Mariposas,  and 
it  was  his  fixed  intention  to  devote  all  his  energies  to 
the  development  of  its  mineral  and  agricultural  re- 
sources. 

The  Mariposas  Estate  lies  about  two  hundred  and 
twenty -five  miles  north  of  San  Francisco,  in  a  basin  of 
the  mountain  on  the  north  flank  of  the  Sierra  Xevada. 
It  covers  an  area  of  about  seventy  square  miles.  Through 
it  run  the  two  main  gold  bearing  ledges  of  California, 
and  it  is  watered  by  two  fine  streams  through  its  entire 
length,  the  Agua  Fria  and  the  Mariposas,  both  of  which 


\ 


380 


IJFE    AND    SERVICKS   OF   JOT  FN   0.    FREMONT. 


iKi 


1^     ■ 
■ 

I'    ' 

It  ''■ 

''If    li 
ii 


^Jit. 


liftvc  their  rise  in  Mount  Bull  ion,  thus  very  approi)n- 
ately  named,  out  of  conii)linient  to  Coh  Benton.  Tiio 
mountains  in  the  rear,  of  granite,  run  up  into  lofty  i)cak8 
wliicli  are  covered  witli  eternal  snow,  and  about  twenty 
miles  from  the  borders  of  the  estate  is  a  waterfall  2300 
feet  high,  the  highest  we  believe  in  the  world.  Tho 
valley  of  the  Mariposas  was  the  favorite  hunting  ground 
of  one  of  the  bravest  and  most  warlike  tribes  of  Indians 
on  the  Pacific  coast,  the  Chauchiles,  and  when  Col.  Fre- 
mont first  parsed  through  it  on  his  third  expedition,  our 
readers  will  remGnil)er  that  he  had  an  alarm  from  them, 
and  six  men  belonging  to  another  party  encamped  in 
the  neighborhood,  were  killed  the  same  night.  Since 
then  they  have  given  a  great  deal  of  trouble  to  tho 
whites  who  have  visited  the  estate,  whom  as  a  race  they 
look  upon  with  justifiable  suspicion.  In  1851  a  regi- 
ment under  the  comnumd  of  Col.  Johnson,  was  sent  up 
into  the  Mariposa  to  punish  this  tribe  for  some  murders 
which  they  had  committed,  and  the  colonel  is  reported 
to  have  said  that  he  never  knew  an  India:!  war  that  was 
not  occasioned  by  the  brutality  of  the  whites,  and  attri- 
buted the  one  in  which  he  was  engaged  to  the  same 
cause.  -  The  editor  of  the  California  Coiiricr,  who  was 
with  him,  confirmed  the  colonel's  impressions  by  tho 
following  story : 


¥.  1 


"  Four  Creeks,  a  long  way  up  in  the  Mariposa  mountains,  is  an 
excelknt  farming  and  grazing  countiy.  There  the  waters  aro 
as  brijfht  as  moonbeams,  and  come  down  from  the  mountain 
springs  as  cool  as  the  sheeted  snow.  Pine  trees,'  six  or  eight 
feet  through,  run  up  as  straight  as  an  arrow,  two  hundred  to  the 
sky,  and  the  wide-spreading  oak  will  shelter  a  whole  tribe  under 
its  branches.     Although  the  hills  aro  covered  with  heavy  snows, 


FRKMONT  8   TITLE   TO   MAKH'OSAS. 


SSI 


was 

ttri- 

;aine 

was 

tho 


IS  an 
aro 
ntaiu 
eight 
.0  the 
inder 
lows. 


the  temperature  of  the  vijlleys  is  as  mild  as  tliusc  of  Switzerlatnl, 
the  streams  are  full  of  salmon,  and  the  crimson  clover  fills  the 
whole  air  with  a  sweet  perfume.  It  is  the  Indian's  I'aradiso  in 
California,  and  the  Mexican  j)opulation  have  never  molested  them 
in  it.  At  Four  Creeks,  was  a  magnificent  oak — the  king  oak  of 
tlie  mountain.  It  was  a  sacred  tree  to  the  Indians.  Under  lis 
branches  they  held  their  councils,  and  worshipped  the  (Ireat 
Spirit.  Here,  also,  they  buried  their  chief'-'  and  wise  men.  It 
had  always  been  respected  by  the  immigrants,  until  some  two 
months  since  when  a  cattle  dealer  drove  a  large  number  of  oxen 
up  from  "Walker's  Tass  to  the  Indian  village.  He  was  treated 
with  the  greatest  kindness  by  the  natives,  and  they  olfered  to 
assist  him  to  '  con'al '  his  beasts.  But  the  old  man  took  a  fancy 
to  build  his  ''corraV  around  the  old  oak.  He  was  told  its  sjicred 
character,  and  remonstrated  with,  but  to  no  purpose.  He  had 
made  up  his  mind  that  his  cattle  should  sleep  in  the  Indian 
churcli,  and  he  '  would  be  d — d  if  they  shouldn't.'  Well,  the 
red  men  got  out  their  arrows,  and  at  night  killed  tho  old  man 
and  his  herdsmen,  and  drove  off  liis  cattle.  AVho  can  blame 
them  ?  This  wanton  act  has  already  caused  the  death  of  seores 
of  Americans,  and  God  only  knows  how  many  more  victims 
must  fall,  before  their  rage  can  be  satiated." 

Col.  Fremont  purchased  this  property  under  a  Mexi- 
can title,  after  California  became  a  territory  of  the 
United  States,  arid  as  his  rii^hts  thus  acquired  have  been 
the  subject  of  a  long  and  expensive  litigation,  only 
brought  to  a  Unal  close  within  the  last  year,  and  as  the 
magnitude  and  singularity  of  the  estate  have  given  it 
already  an  historical  importance,  we  may  venture  to 
give  a  brief  history  of  his  title,  and  of  the  struggles  he 
has  had  to  maintain  it. 

In  18-ii,  Manuel  Micheltorrcna,  then  governor  and 
commandant  general,  issued  a  grant  of  what  is  nov/ 


';' 


382 


LIFK    AND    SF.UVfCKS    OF   .lolIX    C.    FREMONT. 


I 


known  jis  tlio  IVFariposjis  property,  to  Jnjin  Alvarado,  pur- 
porting to  he  t'onndcMl  upon  the  patriotic  services  of  Alva- 
rudo,  who  liad  heen  eonspicuons  in  tlio  commotions  in 
California  whicli  resuUed  from  tlie  centralizini^ policy  ot' 
Mexico,  out  of  which  i^rew  tlie  Texas  revolution,  an<l  was 
afterwards  a])pointed  governor  hy  the  provincial  dei)U- 
tation.  In  1837,  be  repelled  tlie  eftort  of  Cavallo  who 
had  been  appointed  governor  hy  Mexico,  to  take  posses- 
sion of  the  government,  and  was  afterwards  contirmed  as 
governor  of  California  hy  the  constitutional  authorities 
of  Mexico,  lie  continued  in  that  otHce  until  Michel- 
torrcna  was  appointed  to  succeed  him,  and  lie  was 
appointed  iirst  counsellor  of  the  departmental  junta  with 
a  salary  of  $1,500.  For  theso  services  the  following 
grant  was  made : 


"Whereas,  Don  Juan  B.  Alvarado,  colonel  of  the  iuixilimy 
militia  of  this  dej)aitiiu,Mit,  ia  worthy  for  his  patriotic  services,  to 
be  preferred  in  his  pretension  for  his  personal  benefit  and  that 
of  his  family,  for  the  ti  act  of  land  known  by  the  name  of  the 
Mariposas,  to  the  extent  of  ten  square  leagues  (sitior  do  ganado 
mayor),  wiUiin  the  limits  of  the  Snow  Mountain  (Sierra  Nevada) 
and  the  rivers  known  by  the  names  of  the  (Jhauchiiles,  of  the 
Mereed,  and  the  San  Joaquin,  the  necessary  requirements, 
according  to  the  provisions  of  the  laws  and  regulations,  having 
been  previously  complied  with,  by  virtue  of  the  authority  in  me 
vested,  in  the  name  of  the  Mexican  nation,  I  have  granted  to 
him  the  aforesaid  tract,  declaring  the  same  by  tliese  presents  his 
property  in  fee,  subject  to  the  approbation  of  the  Most  Excellent 
the  Deiwrtmental  Assembly,  and  to  the  following  conditions : 

"'1.  He  shall  not  sell,  alienate,  or  mortgage  the  same,  nor 
subject  it  to  taxes,  entail,  or  any  other  incumbrance. 

"  '  2.  He  may  inclose  it  without  obstructing  the  crossings,  the 
roads,  or  the  right  of  way ;  lie  shall  enjoy  the  same  freely  and 


OKIGINAL    DKKD   OF   MAKIl'oSAS. 


383 


without  hiiidraiico,  <l«'stinlng  it  to  sudi  use  or  cultivation  ns 
niHV  most  suit  him,  but  ho  shall  huild  n  house  within  u  yeur,  and 
it  siiall  1)0  iidialtited. 


3.  He  sh 


)li(tit,  from  tli 


■<tratc,  th 


le  Riiaii  solicit,  trom  the  proper  macfistratc,  tne  juilicial 
j»ossession  of  the  same,  by  virtue  of  this  patent,  by  wh»jin  the 
boundaries  shall  be  marked  out,  on  the  limits  of  which  lie  (the 
grantee)  sliall  place  the  i)roper  landmarks. 

"'4.  Tiie  tracdc  of  land  granted  is  ten  sitios  do  jjanado  mavor, 
(ten  s<puxre  leaj^ues),  as  before  mentioned.  I'he  magistrate  who 
may  give  the  possession  shall  cause  the  same  to  be  surveyed 
according  to  the  ordinance,  the  surplus  remaining  to  the  nation 
for  the  proper  uses. 

"'  5.  Should  lie  violate  the  conditions,  ho  will  lose  his  right 
to  the  land,  and  it  will  be  subject  to  being  denounced  by 
another. 

"'Therefore,  T  command  that  these  presents  being  firm  and 
binding,  that  the  same  be  registered  in  the  proper  book,  and 
delivered  to  the  party  interested,  for  his  security  and  other  pur- 
poses. 

" '  Given  in  Monterey,  this  20th  day  of  the  month  of  Febru- 
ary, in  the  year  of  1844. 

" '  Manukl  Micheltorrena. 


" '  Manuel  Timeno,  Secretary^ 


}  ?» 


On  the  10th  of  February,  1847,  Alvarado  executed  a 
deed  of  the  property  as  described  in  liis  own  grant  to 
Colonel  Fremont,  with  a  general  warranty  of  title.  The 
consideration  stated  in  the  conveyance  was  $3,000.  On 
the  21st  of  January,  1852,  he  tiled  his  claim  before  tlie 
commissioners  appointed  to  ascertain  and  settle  the 
private  land  claims  in  the  State  of  California,  and  in 
Deceniher,  1852,  the  grant  was  confirmed.  On  the  20tii 
of  September,  1853,  there  was  fik'd  in  the  office  of  the 
commissioners,    a  notice    from    ^fr.    Attoi'my-General 


381 


Ub'K   AND   BKKVICKH   OF   JOHN    C.    J-UKMoNT. 


I 


I 


■I- 

m 


Cusliiii^,  tluit  ail  appojil  frotn  the  doc'iHion  of  tlic  (/otu- 
mis.siont'i'ri  to  lliu  District  Court  of  tlio  United  Sljitort 
would  1)0  pntsociited,  and  i..  coiisiMjueiice  of  that  apimul 
tlicj  (U'ciHioii  of  tli(^  coiMiiiiKHionors  was  revolted  on  tli(5 
7tli  of  January,  1854.  An  a})i)('al  was  taken  from  that 
docisioti  hy  Col.  Frcniont  to  tlic  Supremo  Court  of  the 
United  States.  The  cane  was  argued  on  the  part  of 
Col.  Freihont  by  Wm.  Carey  JoneH,  Mr.  Jiihb  and  Mr. 
Crittenden  r,  on  the  ])art  of  the  f^overnment  hy  Caleb 
Cushin<i^,  Aitorney-(ieneral.  The  grounds  taken  against 
the  title  by  the  government  were  as  follows: 

"  1.  That  Fremont's  claim  is  on  a  tfratiiitous  oolonization  ^THiit 
hy  tlio  Mexican  frovernor  of  C.'ilitbrnia  to  ono  Alvarado,  of  which 
there  had  been  no  surveys,  no  plan,  no  occupation,  no  site  even, 
no  confu'mation  by  the  proper  public  authority,  no  [)ertbrmance 
of  any  of  the  conditions  precedent  or  subsequent  aimexed  to  the 
Ljrant. 

*'  2.  That  the  concession  to  Alvarado  was  null  for  uncertainty 
of  dcscri[)tion  and  inciij»ability  of  delinite  location. 

"3.  That  the  concession  was  not  confirmed  by  the  depart- 
mental Assembly,  and  was  not  therefore  entitled  to  confirmation 
by  the  United  Stales  C?ourts. 

"  4.  That  the  grant  was  void  because  the  conditions  annexed 
Lad  never  been  performed. 

"  0.  That  until  the  governor-general  confinned  the  concession 
the  title  remained  in  the  crown. 

"  G.  That  none  of  the  excuses  for  non-performanco  alleged  in 
Alvarado's  behalf  possessed  legal  force. 

"  1.  That  the  grant  to  Alvarado  was  a  gratuitous  ono  except 
in  so  far  as  the  performance  of  the  conditions  would  relate  back 
to  constitute  a  consideration. 

"  8.  That  the  original  petition,  the  provisional  grant  and  the 
drcree  of  the  Coiniuissionors,  each  assumed  a  floating  claim  not 
R^  a  oTaiit  of  an  identi  'il  tract  of  land  by  metes  and  boun<ls. 


OPINION   OF   CIIIKF   JnaTICF:   TANET. 


ns5 


Tlio  Supreme  Court  took  a  different  view  of  tlio  case 
from  Mr.  Ciisiiin^;  reversed  the  deeision  of  tlie  District 
Court  of  California,  and  eoiiiirmed  Col.  Fremont's  titlfi 
in  every  i)artieular.  Chief  Justice  Taney  »lelivered  the 
oi)inion  of  the  Court,  in  the  course  (»f  which,  wliiie 
hpeakin^  of  the  provision  a<^ainst  alienation  attached  to 
Alvarado's  ^rant,  and  which,  he  said,  was  vend,  as  Ixmiil' 
in  violation  of  a  decree  of  the  Mexican  Congress,  lu! 
observes :^ 


"  But  if  this  condition  was  valid  by  the  laws  of  Mexico,  and 
if  any  convoyunctt  made  by  Alvarado  would  have  forfeited  the 
land  under  the  Mexican  government  as  a  breach  of  this  condi- 
tion, or  if  it  would  have  heen  forfeited  by  a  conveyance  to  an 
alien,  it  does  not  by  any  means  follow  that  the  same  penalty 
would  have  been  incurred  by  the  conveyance  to  Fremont. 

"California  was  at  that  time  in  possession  of  the  Atnerican 
forces,  and  held  by  the  Unit(;d  States  as  a  con((uered  coimtry, 
subject  to  the  authority  of  the  American  government.  The 
Mexican  municipal  laws,  which  were  then  administered,  were 
administered  under  the  authority  of  the  United  States,  and 
might  be  repealed  or  abrogated  at  their  pleasure  ;  and  any 
Mexican  law  inconsistent  with  the  rights  of  the  Utiited  States, 
or  its  public  policy,  or  with  the  rights  of  its  citizens,  wtv^ 
annulled  hy  the  conquest.  Now,  there  is  no  principle  of  public 
law  which  prohibits  the  citizen  of  a  conquering  country  from 
purchasing  property,  real  or  personal,  in  the  territory  thus 
acquired  and  held,  nor  is  there  anything  in  the  principles  of 
our  government,  in  its  policy  or  in  its  laws,  which  forfeits  it. 
The  Mexican  government,  if  it  had  regained  the  power,  and  it 
had  been  its  policy  to  prevent  the  alienation  of  real  estate, 
might  have  treated  the  sale  by  Alvarado  as  a  violation  of  its 
laws ;  but  it  becomes  a  very  different  question  when  the  Ame- 


I 


*  Howard's  United  States  Supreme  Court  Reports,  vol.  xvii.,  pp.  ofi-t-5. 

17 


386 


LIFE   AND   eERVICES   OF  JOHN   C.    FREMONT. 


J;.' 


ill 


\u  ^ 


rican  government  is  called  on  to  exeoi'te  the  Mexican  law.  And 
it  can  hardly  be  niainlaiiied  that  an  American  citizen,  who 
makes  a  contract  or  purchases  property  nnder  such  circnni- 
stances,  can  be  punished  in  a  court  of  the  United  States  with  the 
penalty  of  forfeiture,  when  there  is  no  hiw  of  Congrt-as  to  intlic^t 
it.  Tiic  ])urciiase  was  poifectly  consistent  with  the  rights  and 
duties  of  Colonel  Freniont,  as  an  American  ollicer  an<l  an  Ame- 
rican citizen  ;  and  tlie  country  in  which  he  made  the  purchase 
was,  at  the  time,  subject  to  the  authority  and  dominion  of  the 
United  States.  ****** 
"  Upon  the  wliole,  it  is  the  opinion  of  tlie  court  that  the 
claim  of  the  petitioner  is  valid,  and  ought  to  be  confirmed.  The 
decree  of  the  distiict  court  must,  therefore,  be  reversed,  and  the 
case  lemandcd,  with  directions  to  the  district  court  to  enter  a 
decree  conformably  to  this  opinion." 

Mariposas  abounds  in  gold,  and  when  Col.  Freniont  first 
passed  over  it,  lie  and  his  party  picked  np  large  quan- 
tities lying  upon  the  surface  of  the  soil.  It  is  also  said 
to  be  the  easiest  placer  to  work  in  all  California,  with 
resources  which  cannot  be  exhausted  in  centuries. 
Guided  by  the  information  which  he  had  acquired  from 
])ersoiuil  inspection,  and  from  the  letter,  of  liis  agents, 
he  brouglit  with  him  when  he  readied  California  this 
year — 1840 — a  company  of  Spaniards,  some  twenty- 
eight  in  number,  who  joined  him  in  Sonora,  and  with 
whom  he  contracted  for  the  digging  of  gold  on  his 
estate  upon  shares.  lie  was  to  provision  them,  and 
they  were  to  divide  the  gold  they  found  equally  with 
hitn.  This  arrangement  proved  entirely  satisfactory 
and  very  profitable.  The  Sonoranians  were  all  respect- 
able Spaniards — many  of  them  already  wealthy — and 
in  their  transactions  with  him,  strictly  honorable.  He 
readily  fulfilled  his  part  of  the  contract  by  occasionally 


APPOINTED  U.    8.    COMMISSIONER. 


38T 


And 


sending  men  into  the  south  for  cattle,  which  they  drove 
on  to  the  estate,  and  pastured  there  until  they  were 
wanted. 

It  was  while  thus  agreeably  and  profitably  employed 
in  developing  tlie  resources  of  his  nnagniticent  estate, 
and  rapidly  })roviding  for  himself  and  family  a  pecuni- 
ary independence,  that  he  received  from  President 
Taylor  the  appointment  of  commissioner  to  run  the 
boundary  line  between  the  United  States  and  Mexico, 
in  place  of  John  B.  Weller,  of  Ohio,  who  had  then 
but  recently  been  appointed  to  that  office  by  President 
Polk. 

Col.  Fremont  determined  to  accept  the  office  without 
hesitation,  for  he  had  reason  to  look  upon  it  as  a  veiy 
friendly  and  unequiv  cal  expression  of  General  Taylor's 
disapproval  of  the  verdict  of  the  court-martial  which 
had  dismissed  him  from  the  army  a  few  montlis  pre- 
viously, lie  had  the  less  hesitation  in  accepting  it, 
because  he  had  been  politically  identified  with  the 
party  which  had  opposed  General  Taylor's  election  to  the 
presidency,  a  fact  which,  while  it  heightened  the  com- 
pliment on  the  one  hand,  on  the  other  increased  in  a 
corresponding  degree  the  difficulty  of  declining  it  with- 
out appeai'ing  insensible  to  the  generous  motives  of  its 
author.  lie  promptly  waited  upon  Mr.  Weller,  when 
he  was  in  Monterey  trying  to  borrow  some  money  for 
the  uses  of  the  commission  ;  informed  him  of  what  had 
occurred,  and  signified  his  intention  to  accept  the  place, 
(it  being  well  understood  by  both  that  whether  he 
accepted'  or  not,  Mr.  Wellpr  would  not  be  retained)  and 
wished  to  know  when  it  would  be  most  aijrreeable  to 
Mr.  W.  to  be  relieved.  Mr.  AVeller  informed  him  that 
the  affairs  of  the  commission  were  in  orreat  confusion 


■s 


#      -^ 


388 


LIFE   AND   SERVICES   OF  JOHN   C.    FREMONT. 


I  : 

t.   : 


P: 


n 


1  /(. 


for  want  of  funds,  and  that  he  would  prefer  to  wait 
until  he  could  get  the  funds  he  was  in  quest  of,  and 
return  to  San  Diego,  where  he  would  arrange  his 
affairs  as  soon  as  possible.  Col.  Fremont  begged  him 
to  take  his  own  time.  Afterwards,  Col.  Weller  having 
entirely  fa'^ed  in  all  his  plans  for  raising  the  mon(;y 
that  he  required.  Col.  Fremont  endorsed  his  drafts  for 
liim,  and  got  them  cashed,  a  kindness  afterwards  very 
ill-requited.  We  are  thus  particular  in  mentioning 
these  details,  because  Col.  Fremont's  acceptance  was 
subsequently  used  to  prejudice  him  with  the  people  of 
California,  who  had  already  determined  to  send  him  to 
"Washington  as  one  of  their  first  senators.  Without 
attempting  the  ungracious  task  of  tracing  the  calumni- 
ous reports  in  regard  to  this  appointment  to  their 
fountain.,  it  is  enough  for  our  present  purpose  to  say 
that  they  reached  the  ears  of  Col.  Fremont's  friends, 
who  promptly  took  the  proper  means  of  ascertaining 
and  exposing  their  falsity. 

The  following  correspondence  was  the  result.  Mr. 
Snyder's  letter  was  answered  the  night  it  was  received, 
and  Col.  Fremont's  reply  was  the  first  political  letter  he 
had  ever  written.  It  was  in  every  respect  worthy  of 
the  pen  of  an  experienced  statesman. 


i  Hi 


LETTER  FROM  JACOB  R.  SNYDER  TO  COL.  FREMONT. 

San  Francisco,  Deo.  11th,  1849. 

Dear  Sir:  Your  name  has  been  long  before  the  people  of 
California  as  a  candidate  for  the  U.  S.  Senate.  As  an  okl 
resident  of  California,  and  a  personal  friend  of  long  standing,  I 
feel  the  deepest  interest  in  your  election,  and  take  the  liberty  of 
asking  of  you  information  on  certain  points  which  I  discover  to 
be  much  agitated  by  some  who  are  not  your  friends.     Are  you 


.!■! 


WELLER  CORRESPONDENCE. 


389 


a  believer  in  the  distinctive  tenets  of  the  democratic  party? 
What  are  your  viewf>  in  relation  to  an  overland  communication 
by  railroad  or  oth  rwise,  from  the  Pacific  to  the  Atlantic  and 
through  the  territoi/  of  the  United  States?  What  is  the  true 
history  and  real  nature  of  your  title  to  a  certain  tract  of  land 
which  you  are  said  to  claim  on  the  Mariposa  River?  What 
have  you  done,  and  what  do  you  propose  to  do,  to  establish 
that  claim  ? 

"What  has  been  vour  course  in  reference  to  a  commission 
which  you  are  said  to  have  received  to  run  the  boundary  line 
called  for  by  the  late  treaty  with  Mexico?  Was  that  appoint- 
ment solicited  by  yourself  or  your  friends,  and  have  you 
accepted  it  ?  and  if  not,  how  long  did  you  hold  it  under  consid- 
eration ? 

What  was  the  real  nature  of  the  transaction  with  D.  Eulop^io 
de  Celis,  concernk);:^  which,  certain  publications  were  sometime 
since  made  in  the  newspapers  of  this  place  and  of  some  of  the 
Eastern  States?  On  all  of  these  matters  I  would  respectfully 
submit  that  as  full  an  answer  as  this  short  notice  will  allow,  is 
due  to  your  friends  and  supporters,  and  that  in  regard  to  your 
political  principles,  a  declaration  would  come  from  you  with 
peculiar  fitness,  seeing  that  your  occupations,  honorable  as  they 
have  been,  and  serviceable  to  your  country,  have  not  been  of  a 
character  to  call  for  an  expression  of  your  opinions  on  matters 
of  government,  and  that  your  friends,  though  well  persuaded 
themselves  of  your  soundness,  are  yet  daily  met  with  the  ques- 
tion, 'how  do  you  know  that  Mr.  Fremont  is  a  democrat,  and  how 
long  has  he  been  one  V  "  Yours,  &c., 

"Jacob  R.  Snyder. 
"J.  C.  Fremont,  Esq." 


REPLY    OF  COL.  FREMONT. 

"San  Francisco,  Deo.  l\th,1M0. 

"  My  Deaf  Sir  :  I  have  the   pleasure  to  acknowledge  the 
receipt  of  your  letter  to-day,  and  to  make  you  my  kind  thanks  for 


#'  .  '-^ 


n 


I 


vi  •     :  i 


390 


LIFE   AND    SERVICES   OF   JOHN   0.    FREMONT. 


the  gratification  I  find  in  being  called  to  make  some  reply  to  the 
vague  accusations  in  circulation  against  me.  I  presume  that  it  will 
be  a  sufficient  answer  to  your  first  question,  simply  to  state,  that 
by  association,  feeling,  principle  and  education,  I  am  thoroughly 
a  democrat ;  and  without  entering  into  any  discussion  of  the 
question  at  issue  between  the  two  great  parties,  I  have  only 
further  to  say,  that  I  adhere  m  the  great  principles  of  the  demo- 
cratic party  as  they  are  understood  on  this  and  the  otiier  side  of 
the  continent.  1  am  strongly  in  favor  of  a  central,  national  rail- 
road from  the  Mississippi  River  to  the  Pacific  Ocean.  Recent 
events  have  converted  the  vague  desire  for  that  work  into  an 
organized  movement  throughout  the  great  body  of  our  fellow, 
citizens  in  the  United  States,  and  in  common  with  them,  T  am 
warmly  in  favor  of  its  immediate  location  and  speediest  possible 
construction.  lis  stupendous  magnitude — the  immense  benefit 
which  it  will  confer  upon  our  whole  country — ♦lie  changes  which 
it  will  operate  throughout  the  Pacific  Ocean  and  easterii  Asia — 
commingling  together  the  European,  American,  and  Asiatic 
races — spreading  indefinitely  religious,  social  and  political  im- 
provement— characterize  it  as  the  greatest  enterprise  of  the  age, 
and  a  great  question  proposed  for  the  solution  of  the  American 
people.  There  never  has  been  presented  an  enterprise  so  calcu- 
lated to  draw  together  in  its  support  all  classes  of  society  ;  and 
the  perpetual  and  always  increasing  benefits  which  it  will  confer 
upon  the  human  race  in  addition  to  the  weighty  national  consi- 
derations, military,  political,  and  commercial,  which  more  imme- 
diately concerns  us,  call  upon  us  for  immediate  and  efficient 
action.  Ardently  in  favor  of  the  work,  it  follows  of  course  that 
I  am  entirely  satisfied  of  its  practicability  and  believe  fully  in  its 
ultimate  and  speedy  construction.  Many  years  of  labor  and  ex- 
ploration of  the  interior  of  our  continent,  and  along  a  great  part 
of  the  way  the  road  will  necessarily  pass,  have  conclusively  satis- 
fied me  not  only  of  its  entire  practicability,  but  of  extraordinary 
advantages  offered  for  its  construction.  A  late  journey  across 
the  continent  from  the  frontier  of  Missouri  was  solely  directed  to 


f  i 

i     \ 


r 

[ 


WELLKR   COREKSPONDENCE. 


391 


ply  to  the 
hat  it  will 
tate,  tfiat 
orounrhly 
n   of  the 
five  only 
le  demo- 
f  side  of 
>nal  rail- 
Recent 
into  an 
r  fellow, 
fn,  I  am 
possible 
benefit 
s  which 
Asia — 

Asiatic 
-;al  iiu- 

he  ace, 
leriean 
calcu- 
y;  and 
confer 
consi- 
imme- 
ficient 
e  that 
in  its 
id  ex- 
;  part 
satis- 
nary 
liross 
id  to 


an  examination  of  the  country  in  reference  to  the  railroad  com- 
munication, and  was  undertaken  in  the  season  of  winter  in  order 
that  all  the  obstacles  which  could  exist  to  the  construction  of  the 
road  might  be  known  and  fully  determined.  The  result  was  en- 
tirely satisfactory.  It  convin(;ed  me  that  neither  the  snow  of 
winter  nor  the  mountain  ranges  were  obstacles  in  the  wav  of 
the  road,  and  furnished  me  with  a  far  better  line  than  any  I  li.-id 
pvpviously  known.  From  the  frontier  of  Missouri  along  the  liii<* 
of  the  Kansas  River,  400  miles  of  rich  wooded  countrv,  well 
adapted  to  settlement — by  the  upper  waters  of  the  Arkansas 
into  and  through  the  rugged  mountains  in  which  thev  rise,  to 
the  valley  which  lies  around  the  head  waters  of  the  great  Del 
Norte — the  profile  of  the  route  presents  a  regularly  ascending 
plain,  without  a  perceptible  inequality  to  break  the  uniformity 
of  its  surface.  Lying  between  the  28th  and  29th  parallels  of 
latitude,  commencino;  on  the  frontier  of  Missouri  at  the  39th 
and  ending  in  the  Del  Norte  valley  at  the  38th — the  route  j)re- 
sents  a  comparatively  straight  line,  running  for  a  greater  part  of 
the  way  through  a  country  capable  of  settlement,  and  cultivation, 
and  passing  through  the  Arkansas  chain  (one  of  the  most  rugged 
in  all  the  Rocky  Mountain  ranges),  by  a  pass  of  imperceptible 
grade,  and  in  every  respect  one  of  the  best  with  which  we  are 
acquainted  in  those  difficult  mountains.  Beyond  the  Del  Noi-te 
that  region  yet  remains  to  be  explored,  well  ktiown  from  reliable 
information  to  atlbrd  through  the  mountains  which  separate  the 
valley  of  the  Del  Norte  and  Colorado,  an  excellent  pass,  travelled 
by  the  Mexicans  at  all  seasons  of  the  year,  which  gives  every 
reason  for  believing  that  the  character  of  the  country  is  equally 
favorable.  Its  further  progress  would  carry  it  by  the  southern 
extremity  of  the  country  now  occupied  by  the  people  of  De- 
seret,  and  thence  by  the  line  of  the  Humboldt  River  around  into 
the  head  of  the  lower  Sacramento  valley,  by  a  pass  in  the  Sierra 
Nevada,  but  little  above  the  general  level  of  the  great  basin. 
Such  a  location  would  be  entirely  central,  passing  by  the  nor- 
thern  edge   of   the   Mexican    settlements,   goin/j    ihrough   tho 


392 


IJFE    AND   SERVICES   OF   JOHN    C.    TKEMONT. 


1  'i 


il    'i 


southern  part  of  Mormon — and  branching  into  Oregon  from  the 
confines  of  California. 

*'  Some  montiis  since,  in  conversation  with  Gen.  Smith,  I  liad 
the  honor  to  propose  this  j)hin  for  tiie  location  of  the  road,  [ 
further  indicated  to  him  the  existence  of  this  favorable  way  and 
pass  from  the  Ilmnboldt  River  into  the  head  of  the  lower  Sa(;ra- 
menlo  valley.  Gen.  Smith  decided  immediately  to  send  an 
exploring  party  to  examine  the  route,  and  requested  me  to  send 
him  a  letter  recapitulating  the  information,  in  order,  as  he  had 
the  kindness  to  say,  that  any  credit  which  might  hereafter 
belong  to  the  origin  of  the  line,  should  inure  to  me.  The  expe- 
dition was  immediately  sent,  and  although  it  terminated  in  the 
death  of  the  gallant  ofKcer  who  commanded  it,  I  am  informed 
that  his.  journal  and  sketches  fully  establish,  so  far  as  ho  went, 
the  practicability  of  the  road.  You  are  aware  that  among  the 
indefinite  objections  which  have  been  raised  against  me,  are 
some  of  a  sectional  character.  Such  objections  I  think  may 
be  fairly  met  with  the  statement  above. 

"  The  '  Mariposa  claim '  is  a  tract  of  land  ten  leagues  in 
extent  lying  upon  a  ci-eek  of  the  same  name  in  the  San  Joaquin 
valley.  It  was  purchased  for  me  by  Mr.  Larkin  in  the  beginning 
of  1847,  and  during  my  absence  with  the  battalion  in  the  south, 
from  D.  Juan  B.  Alvarado,  to  whom  it  had  been  granted  in 
consideration  of  his  public  services.  Mr.  Larkin  paid  for  it 
$3,000.  I  have  never  seen  the  place,  and  know  nothing  of  its 
character  or  value.  The  purchase  was  made  before  California 
was  ceded  to  the  United  »States,  and  long  before  any  gold  had 
been  discovered.  I  had  always  intended  to  make  my  home  in 
the  country  if  possible,  and  for  this  purpose  desired  a  foothold 
in  it.  On  my  return  to  the  country  in  the  present  year  I  visitod 
the  place  in  company  with  Dr.  Corrie,  Mr.  Reid,  and  several 
other  gentlemen,  and  for  the  first  time  saw  the  laud.  Two-thirds 
are  adapted  only  to  farming  ;  on  the  other  third  gold  was  discov- 
ered, and  we  went  to  work  to  dig  it  out.  So  soon  as  it  was 
known  that  we  were  there,  hundreds — soon  becoming  thousands 


WELLER   CORRESPONDENCK. 


393 


from  the 

th,  I  J|;ul 
5   road,  [ 
way  ancj 
!'■  Sa(;ra- 
send  an 
to  send 
5  he  had 
ereafter 
e  expe- 

I  in  the 
Conned 
>  vvent, 
iig  the 
le,  are 

^  may 

les  in 
.'iquin 

II  ni  nor 
outh, 
h1  in 
or  it 
'f  its 
►rnia 
Jiad 

3  in 

lold 

itod 

3ral 

rds 

ov- 

I'as 

ids 


— crowded  to  the  satiio  place,  and  to  tliis  day  from  two  to  tliree 
thousand  persons  have  been  rcLjuIarly  employed.  They  have 
worked  them  freely;  no  one  has  ever  od'ered  thcin  the  slightest 
impediment,  nor  have  I  myself,  ever  expresed  to  anv  one  cr 
entertained  an  intention  of  interfering  with  the  free  working  of 
tlie  mines  at  that  place.  I  regard  the  claim  to  the  Mariposa  in 
the  same  light  as  any  other  vested  right.  It  was  a  purcliaso 
fairly  made,  and  I  have  always  supposed  that  at  some  future  time 
the  validity  of  the  claim  would  be  settled  by  the  proper  courts. 
I  am  satisfied  to  await  that  decision,  whether  it  be  favorable  or 
otherwise,  and  in  the  meantime  to  leave  tlie  gold,  as  it  is  now, 
free  lo  all  who  have  the  industry  to  collect  it. 

"  I  was  at  San  Josd,  when  I  had  the  honor  to  receive  from 
President  Taylor,  by  the  hands  of  Dr.  IJeale,  the  commission  to 
run  the  boundary  line  with  Mexico.  I  regarded  that  commission 
as  a  disavowal  on  the  part  of  the  President  of  the  procee<lings 
recently  held  against  me.  Respect  to  the  President,  together 
with  a  full  appreciation  of  the  consideration  which  had  induced 
him  to  make  the  appointment,  did  not,  in  my  judgment,  permit 
me  to  decline,  and  I  accordingly  accepted  the  commission,  with 
the  intention  which  I  then  expressed  to  Mr.  Beale  and  others 
sliortly  afterwards  to  resign.  I  immediately  went  to  San  Fran- 
cisco, where  I  had  been  informed  Col.  Weller  had  arrived,  ile 
had  left  that  place  and  I  shortly  afterwards  joined  him  at  Mon- 
terey. The  Secretary  of  State  had  made  me  the  bearer  of  the 
letter  which  superseded  Col.  Weller.  To  present  it  was  a  dis- 
agreeable office,  and  from  motives  of  delicacy  I  did  not  immedi- 
ately present  him  the  letter,  but  waited  until  I  was  about  to 
leave  the  town.  I  then  called  upon  Col.  Weller,  in  order  to 
ascertain  from  him,  at  what  time  and  place  it  would  be  most 
agreeable  to  him,  that  T  should  relieve  him.  I  learnt  that  the 
object  of  his  journey  to  San  Francisco  had  been  to  procure  funds 
with  which  to  discharge  the  liabilities  of  the  government  to  liis 
jarty ;  and  that  it  would  bes'.  suit  his  purposes  to  obtain  the 
necessarv  sum,  return  to  San  Djpnfo,  and  be  relieved  by  me  at 


391 


LIFE    AND    SERVICES   OF  JOHN   0.    FKEMONT. 


^t;^     I 


that  place.  I  then  informed  him  that  my  instructions  left  me  nt 
liberty  to  relieve  when  I  should  be  ready  to  do  so,  and  that 
accordingly  he  might  proceed  to  San  Francisco,  and  it  was 
agreed,  tliat  if  Col.  VVeller  did  not  succeed  in  obtaining  money 
from  Gen.  Riley,  to  whom  he  intended  to  apply,  an  express 
should  be  forwarded  to  me,  and  the  money  obtained  at  San  Fran- 
cisco and  brousxht  down  bv  me  in  the  steamer. 

*'  On  the  eve  of  leaving  San  Francisco  and  too  late  to  negoti- 
ate drafts,  T  received  an  express  infomiing  me  that  Gen.  Riley 
had  declined  furnishing  the  mur.ey.  When  the  steamer  reached 
Monterey,  I  found  Col.  Weller  on  the  landing,  ready  to  embark 
for  San  Diego,  and  fully  expecting  to  receive  the  money ;  under- 
Btanding  the  embarrassment  of  his  situation,  I  oftered,  if  ho 
determined  to  go  on  to  San  Diego,  that  I  would  return  to  San 
Francisco,  to  procure  the  money  and  bring  or  send  it  to  him.  ' 

"  I  had,  in  the  mean  time,  resigned  my  appointment,  informing 
the  secretary  that  I  should  withhold  the  letter  relieving  Mr. 
Weller,  and  leave  the  department  at  liberty  to  make  its  own 


arrangements. 


"  It  had  become  unnecessary  for  me  to  go  to  San  Diego  in  the 
public  service,  and  the  management  of  my  private  affairs  did  not 
otherwise  leave  me  the  necessary  time.  I  suppose  that  Col. 
Weller  was  not  detained  at  San  Diego,  as  he  returned  to  this 
place  as  soon  as  could  be  expected  after  the  receipt  of  the  money. 
This  is  a  brief  statement  of  the  course  I  have  pursued.  It  was 
dictated  altogether  by  a  disposition  to  promote  the  interests  of 
Col.  Weller,  and  to  make  my  concern  in  his  removal  as  little  un- 
pleasant as  possible.  The  office  was  never  sought  after  by  me, 
never  expected  by  me,  and  never  sought  or  expected  by  any  of 
mv  friends  for  me. 

"  In  re))ly  to  your  inquiry  for  information  regarding  the  "  real 
nature  of  the  transaction  with  D.  Eulogio  de  Cells,'  I  have  to 
state,  that,  at  a  time  when  the  troops  under  my  command  were 
destitute  of  provisions,  and  we  were  able  to  procure  them  only 
in  small   and  (Ifsnltory  supplif'«!,  on  a  precai-ious  credit,  Major 


WELLER   CORKESrONDENCE. 


305 


Samuel  Hensley,  then  commissary  for  the  battalion,  called  upon 
me  with  an  oi  Vr  from  Mr.  Ceiis,  which   I  was  glad   to  accept 
immediately.     The  offer  was  to  furnish   me  with   600  head  of 
cattle,  at  ten  dollars  per  head,  and  a  loan  of  $2,500,  payable  all 
in  six  months,  with  the  usual  interest,  if  not  paid  at  that  time, 
we  were  to  return  him  the  hides  as  the  cattle  were  killed,  and 
the  difference  in  price  of  the  cattle   (§8  beini,'  the  cash   pi  ice 
then),  being  a  bonus  for  the  loan  and  for  the  relief  afforded  by 
the  provisions.     D.  Andres  Pico  was  charged  to  bring  the  cattle 
from  San  Louis  Obispo  to  Los  Angeles.     In  the  interval  of  his 
absence,  General  Kearney  issued  his  proctlamation,  takmg  out  of 
my  hands  the  partial  direction  of  affairs  which   I  had  retained, 
and  destroying  the  confidence  which  the  people  of  the  South  had 
been  disposed  to  place  in  me.     Desirous  to  know  for  the  satisfac- 
tion of  those  to  whom  I  was  indebted,  how  far  Gen.  Kearney 
designed  to  fulfill  my  contracts  previously  made,  I  immediate  It/ 
visited  him  for  that  purpose  at  Monterey.     As  I  have  already 
asserted,  on  my  trial  before  the  court  martial  at  Washington,  he 
refused  to  assume  any  responsibility  or  to  fulfill  any  contract.     I 
immediately  returned  to  Los  Angeles,  and  made  known  his  reply 
to  Mr.  Celis,  Mr.  Cot,  D.  Andres  Pico,  and  other  gentlemen  then 
at  that  place.     D.  Andres  Pico  had,  in  the  meantime,  brought  a 
portion  of  the  cattle  (between  400  and  500  I  believe),  to  the 
mission   of  San   Fernando,  near  Los  Angeles,  where   they    were 
waiting  to  be  delivered — what  disposition  should  be  made  of  the 
cattle  was  for  some  days  a  subject  of  discussion  between  Mr. 
Celis,  D.  Andres  Pico,  Major  Hensley,  and  myself.     It  was  at 
first  proposed  to  leave  the  cattle  with  D.  Andres ;  but  agreeably 
to  the  suggestion  of  Major  Hensley,  it  was  decided  to  place  them 
with  Mr.  Stearns,  as  a  security  both  to  Celis  and  to  the  govern- 
me!it,  until  we  should  be  able   to  know  what  course  would   by 
pursued   by  the  government.     They   were   to   be  kept   by   Mr. 
Stearns  on  the  terms  usually  allowed  for  keeping  cattle,  viz. :  one 
half  the  increase,  and  they  were  not  placed  in  his  hand  for  any 
fixed  time,  but  only  to  await  the  action  of  the  government. 


T 

»; 


39G 


LIFK    AND   SKRVICES   OF  JOUN    0.  FliEMONT. 


"It  had  l)oen  made  a  matter  of  chaiQ^e  against  mo,  that  I  rrave 
to  Mr.  Celis  a  full  receipt  for  the  delivery  of  all  the  cattle,  when 
I  h;id  received  only  a  part.  I  had  the  riijht  to  do  so.  I  haii  the 
right  to  coinj)lefe  my  own  contracts,  wiien  others,  whoso  duty  it 
was  to  resume  them,  endeavored  rather  to  invalidate  them.  As 
Mr.  Celis  liad  had  sullicient  contidence  in  mo  to  advance  me 
money,  and  I  was  under  order  to  leave  the  country  immediately^ 
I  chose  to  have  sufticient  confidence  in  him  to  give  him  a  receipt 
for  all  the  cattle,  and  to  bind  the  government  to  iiim,  so  far  as  I 
possibly  coidd.  These  cattle  were  all  delivered  as  soon  as  they 
could  be  brouoht  to  Los  Amxeles, 

"Since  my  return  to  this  country  I  have  received  a  number  of 
afiidavits  to  all  the  occurrences  of  the  forgoing  transaction,  from 
Mr.  Wilson,  Mr.  Temple,  and  other  gentlemen,  citizens  of  Los 
Angeles.  These,  with  some  other  papers,  were  designed  for 
another  occasion,  and  are  now  at  Monterey,  but  they  shall  be 
published  as  soon  as  I  can  conveniently  do  so.  Mr.  Celis  is  now 
in  this  city.  I  have  tlius,  my  dear  sir,  briefly  and  hurriedly 
answered  your  several  inquiries ;  I  should  have  been  better  satis- 
fied if  there  had  been  time  sufficient  to  give  to  each  particular 
point  a  well-digested  reply,  but  I  trust  that  they  may  answer  the 
present  purpose  of  removing  some  erroneous  impressions  ;  and  in 
any  event,  I  beg  you  to  receive  my  thanks  for  the  kindness  of 
the  motive  which  dictated  y  ur  letter,  and  which,  in  every  way 
is  consistent  with  the  same  friendly  spirit  which  has  always 
influenced  your  conduct  to  me. 

"  With  respect  and  regard,  I  aur  yours  truly, 

"J.  C.  Fremont. 
"  J.  R.  Snyder,  Esq." 

This  letter  put  an  end  to  any  further  talk  about  Mr. 
Weller's  commissionersliip,  and  at  once  placed  him  in 
the  front  rank  of  the  candidates  for  the  United  States 
Senate  from  California,  under  the  new  constitution  wiiicli 
had  just  been  adopted  by  her  pc;)plo.     Ten  days  after 


;■'»■ 


KLKCIKD    UNITKD    8TATK8   SENATOR. 


397 


[ONT. 


in 

lies 
ich 
'ter 


the  date  of  his  letter  the  new  legislature  assemhled  at 
San  JoBo  the  neat  of  government,  and  iinniediately  after 
the  inauguration  of  the  new  governor,  Ihirnett,  j)roeeeded 
to  an  ek'etion  of  United  States  senators.  Fremont  was 
eleeted  on  the  tirst  ballot  hy  tseven  majority.* 

This  election,  so  flattering  to  a  young  nuii\  not  yet 
thirty-seven  years  of  age,  and  presenting  such  alluring 
prospects  of  political  distinction,  he  felt  it  his  duly 
to  accept,  although  fully  aware  that  it  was  certain  to 
derange,  perhaps  for  ever,  the  acceptable  scheme  of  lifo 
ho  had  marked  out  for  himself.  In  yielding,  however, 
he  was  influenced  more  by  the  solicitations  of  friends 
and  a  desire  to  testify  his  gratitude  for  their  kindness, 
than  by  any  personal  conviction  of  the  wisdom  or  pru- 
dence of  his  course. 


I 


*  The  following  was  the  result  of  the  first  ballot. 


John  0.  Fremont,     ....       29 

Wm.  W.  Gwin,          ....        22 

H.  W.  Walleck,        ....        14 

T.  Butler  King 10 

Geary,         ....        5 

Scmple,            ....         8 

Henley,        ....        9 

Gwin  was  also  elected  on  the  third  ballot  by  a  majority  of  two  votes. 

#       ^ 


398 


LIFK    AND   8ERVICE8   OF   JOHN    0.    FBKMONT. 


CHAPTER  XV. 


8AIL8     FOR     WA9HIN0T0N     A9     UNITED     STATES      SENATOR — 

TAKES    THE    CHA0RE8     FEVER LETTER    TO     THE     PHII-A- 

DELl'HIA   PACHTO    RAILROAD   CONVEVTION. 


1 1,1 


B 


m 


The  prompt  action  of  the  legislature  of  California  in 
clioosinf^  their  senators,  resulted  mainly  from  a  desire 
to  have  the  benefit  of  their  services  as  early  as  possible 
in  Washington,  where  the  question  upon  the  admission 
of  California  into  the  Union  as  a  State,  was  under  con- 
sideration. No  time  was  lost,  therefore,  by  Colonel 
Fremont  in  repairing  to  his  new  post  of  duty.  He 
sailed  from  San  Francisco  with  his  family,  in  the 
steamer  that  bore  the  news  of  his  election,  to  the  Atlan- 
tic States,  in  order  that  the  country  which  he  had 
explored,  conquered,  and  adopted  for  his  home,  and 
which  had  rewarded  him  by  an  election  to  the  highest 
office  in  its  gift,  should  come  as  soon  as  possible  into  the 
enjoyment  of  all  the  political  rights  of  a  sovereign  State 
of  the  Republic.  He  was  detained  on  the  Isthmus  of 
Panama  a  few  weeks  by  the  dangerous  illness  of  Mrs. 
Fremont,  and  while  there,  his  own  system  became 
charged  with  the  malaria  of  the  climate,  which  soon 
developed  itself  in  the  most  malignant  form  of 
Chagres  fever.      It  was  the    iirst    and   only    serious 


TAKK8   TlIK   CIIAUKE3    FKVKR. 


399 


illness  ho  ever  had,  thoiigli  it  clung  to  him  tur 
several  years,  and  is  only  worthy  of  particular  men- 
tion hero  as  it  prevented  his  attendance  at  Washing- 
ton during  the  second  year  of  his  senatorial  term. 

Soon  after  his  arrival  at  the  seat  of  government, 
Colonel  Fremont  was  invited  to  attend  a  convention 
which  was  to  assemble  at  Philadelphia  on  the  1st  of 
April,  for  the  purpose  of  promoting  the  construction  of 
a  national  road  to  the  Pacitic  Ocean,  through  the  terri- 
tories of  the  United  States.  As  he  had  not  yet  laid  the 
results  of  his  last  tour  of  exploration  before  the  public, 
and  as  it  had  been  undertaken  avowedly  for  the  purpose 
of  throwing  light  npon  the  groat  problem  of  a  highway 
across  the  continent,  his  views  were  looked  ft>r  with 
great  interest.  His  answer  to  the  committee,  which  we 
give  entire,  was  one  of  the  most  explicit  and  instructive 
documents  which,  up  to  that  time,  had  appeared  u[)(>n 
the  subject,  from  any  quarter. 


LETTER     FROM     COLONEL    FREMONT    TO    MESSRS.    R.    GF:i{IIAlil)    AND 

OTHERS,  CQMMrrTEE,  &C. 


"  Gentlemen  :  It  would  have  ^Wen  me  great  pleasure  to  have 
been  able  to  accept  your  kind  invitation,  and  to  have  met  the 
interesting  Mississippi  and  Pacific  Raihoad  Conv^ention  on  Mon- 
day, but  the  remains  of  a  Chagres  fever  confine  mo  to  my  room, 
and  leave  me  no  other  mode  of  showing  my  sense  of  your  atten- 
tion, and  manifesting  the  interest  I  take  in  the  great  object 
which  assembles  this  convention,  than  to  contribute,  so  far  as  I 
can,  to  the  mass  of  the  information  which  will  be  laid  before  it. 
In  doing  this,  I  regret  that  the  state  of  my  health  does  not  per- 
mit even  the  labor  necessary  to  give  the  distances  and  barome- 
trical elevations  along  the  route  which  I  shall  ofier  for  your  con- 


I   I 


^J 


400 


LIFK    AND   SKRVICKS   OF   JOHN    C.    FREMONT. 


sideration  ;  but  I  liavo  caused  a  skololon  map,  riidcly  pkotclied, 
to  1)0  pivpaied  to  ac(omj)aiiy  this  coiMinnnication,  and  which  in 
exhibiiiiio-  tlic  j)i(imin('iit  Icaitircs  of  the  country,  and  ijcneral 
direction  of  lh«i  line,  will  he  I'oiind  sullicicntly  full  and  accurate 
to  illustralc  what  1  have  to  say. 

"  Manv  lines  of  ox|>loratioiis  throuLjh  tlie,  wilderness  country, 
from  our  inhaMied  iVoniior  to  the  racitic  Ocean,  have  conclu- 
sively satislied  me  that  the  reL;;ion  or  belt  of  country,  lying 
between  the  88th  and  3i)th  parallels  of  latitude,  otl'er  sinjrular 
facilities  antl  extraordinary  comparative  advantages  for  the  con- 
struction of  the  pn)posed  road. 

"  I  propose,  therefore,  to  occuj)y  your  attention  solely  with  this 
line  ;  lV)r  the  clearer  understanding  of  which,  it  will  aid  to  keep 
under  the  eye  the  accompanying  map,  u})on  whicli  the  unbroken 
red  lines  are  intended  to  show  that  the  regions  which  thev  tra- 
verse  have  been  already  explored,  while  the  broken  red  lines 
what  is  known  only  from  reliable  information. 

"  Tlie  country  to  be  tiaversed  by  the  j)roposed  road  exhibits 
but  two  great  features — the  prairies  reaching  to  about  the  lOotli 
deu'rec  of  lono-iiuide ;  and  the  mountains,  with  which  it  is  brist- 
ling  from  that  poirt  to  the  shores  of  the  Pacntic  ocean.  Some  yeai's 
of  travel  among  these  mountains,  during  which  L  was  occupied 
principally  in  searching  for  convenient  passes  and  good  lines  of 
communication,  gradually  led  me  to  comprehend  their  structure, 
and  to  uuilerstand  that  among  this  extended  mass  of  mountains 
there  is  nowhere  to  be  found  a  great  continuous  range  having 
an  unbroken  crest,  where  passes  are  only  to  be  found  in  the 
comparatively  small  depressions  of  the  summit  line.  Throughout 
this  great  extent  of  country  stretching  in  each  way  about  17 
degrees,  all  these  a]>parently  continuous  ranges  are  composed  of 
lengthened  blocks  of  mountains,  separate  and  detached  of  greater 
or  less  length,  according  to  the  nuignitude  of  the  chain  wiiicli 
they  compose — each  one  possessing  its  separate,  noted,  and  pro- 
minent peaks,  and  lying  parallel  to  each  other,  though  not  usually 
so  to  the  general  direction  of  the  range,  bur  in  manv  cases  Ivin.g 


li     ,    '5. 


brist- 
ycai's 

iiies  of 

•ucturo, 

intaiiis 


igliout 


pro- 

sii.'illy 


TUE    PACIFIC    RAILKOAD. 


401 


diagonally  acjross  it.  Spriiii^ini^  suddenly  up  fioui  tlio  general 
level  of  the  country,  sonietinies  rising  into  bare  and  rocky  sum- 
mits, of  great  height,  they  leave  0|)enings  through  the  range  but 
little  above  the  general  level,  and  by  which  they  can  be  passed 
without  climl)ing  a  mountain,  (lenerally  these  openings  are 
wooded  valleys,  where  the  mountain  springs  from  either  side 
collect  together,  forming  often  the  main  branches  of  some 
mighty  stream.  Aggregated  together  in  this  way,  they  go  to 
form  the  great  chain  of  the  Rocky  Mountains  and  Sierra 
Nevadas  as  well  as  the  smaller  and  secondary  ratiges  whi(-h 
occupy  the  intervening  spac^e.  With  the  gradual  discovery  of 
this  systenj,  I  became  satislied,  not  only  of  the  entire  practica- 
bility, but  of  the  easy  construction  of  a  railroad  across  this 
rugged  region.  As  this  peculiarity  foruis  the  basis  of  my  infor- 
mation, 1  desire  to  state  it  clearly  at  the  outset,  in  order  that  [ 
may  be  more  readily  understood  in  proceeding  to  show  that  this 
continent  can  be  crossed  from  the  Mississippi  to  the  l*acitic, 
without  clind)ing  a  mountain,  an<l  on  the  very  line  which  every 
national  consideration  would  require  to  connect  the  great  valley 
of  the  West  with  the  Pacific  Ocean. 

'•  In  describing  the  belt  of  country  through  which  the  road 
should  pass,  it  will  be  found  convenient  to  divide  the  etitire  line 
into  three  parts — the  Eastern,  reaching  from  the  mouth  '>*'  the 
Kansas  to  the  head  of  the  Del  Norte ;  the  Middle,  from  the  head 
of  the  Del  Norte  to  the  river  of  the  (Jreat  Basin;  and  the  West- 
ern, from  the  iii  of  the  (jrreat  Basin  to  the  ocean.  Beginning 
near  the  yOtli  j)arallel  of  latitude,  at  the  mouth  of  the  Kansas, 
the  road  would  extend  along  the  valley  of  that  river  some  three  or 
four  hundred  miles,  traversing  a  beautiful  and  wooded  country 
of  great  fertility,  well  adapted  to  settlement  and  cultivation. 
From  the  upper  waters  of  the  Kansas,  falling  easily  over  into  the 
valley  of  Arkansas,  the  road  strikes  that  river  about  a  hundred 
miles  below  the  foot  of  the  mountains,  continuing  up  it  only  to 
the  mouth  of  the  Huerfano  River.  From  this  pf)int  the  ))rairio 
plains  sweep  ilirectly  up  to  the  mountains,  which  dominate  them 
as  highlands  to  the  ocean. 


f 


•li 


■  {■  '/ 

^ 

s 

i 

'H 

'1 

I 

i 

.r\\ 

11 


ifr 


402 


LIFE   AND   8ERVI0K8   OF  JOHN   O.    FREMONT. 


"  The  Huerfano  is  one  of  the  upper  branches  of  the  Arkansas 
and  followinir  tlie  lines  of  this  stream  the  road  would  here  enter 
into  a  country  magnificently  beautiful — timbered,  having  many 
bays  or  valleys  of  great  fertility ;  having  a  mild  and  beautiful 
climate;  having  throughout  the  valley  country  short  winters, 
which  spend  their  force  in  the  elevated  regions  of  the  mountains. 
The  ranire  of  mountains  in  which  this  stream  finds  its  head 
springs  is  distinguished  by  having  its  summits  almost  constantly 
enveloped  in  clouds  of  rain  or  snow,  from  which  it  obtains  its 
name  of  Sierra  Mojada,  or  Wet  Mountain.  This  chain  is  remark- 
able among  the  Rocky  Mountain  ranges  for  the  singular  grandeur 
of  its  winter  scenery,  which  has  been  characterized  by  travellers 
who  have  seen  both  as  unsurpassed  either  in  the  Alps  or  the 
Himalayas.  Their  naked  rocky  summits  are  grouped  into 
numerous  peaks,  which  rise  from  the  midst  of  black  piny  forests, 
whence  issue  many  small  streams  to  the  valley  below. 

"  Following  by  an  open  wagon  way  the  valley  of  the  Huerfano, 
the  road  reaches  the  immediate  foot  of  the  mountain  at  the 
entrance  of  a  remarkable  pass,  almost  everywhere  surrounded  by 
bold  rocky  mountain  masses.  From  one  foot  of  the  mountain  to 
the  other,  the  pass  is  about  five  miles  long;  a  level  valley  from 
two  to  four  hundred  yards  wide,  the  Mountains  rising  abruptly 
on  either  side.  With  scarcely  a  distinguishable  rise  from  the 
river  plains,  the  road  here  passes  directly  through  or  between 
the  mountains,  emerging  in  the  open  valley  of  Del  Norte,  here 
some  forty  or  fifty  miles  broad  or  more  properly  a  continuation 
northward  of  the  valley  in  which  the  Del  Norte  runs.  Crossing 
the  fiat  country,  or  opening  between  the  mountains,  and  en- 
countering no  water  course  in  its  way,  the  road  would  reach  the 
entrance  of  a  pass  in  the  Colorado  Mountains,  familiarly  known 
to  the  New  Mexicans  and  Indian  traders,  who  are  accustomed  to 
traverse  it  at  all  seasons  of  the  year,  and  who  represent  it  as  con- 
ducting to  the  waters  of  the  Colorada  River  throuirh  a  handsome 
rolling  grass-covered  country,  atiording  practical  wagon  routes. 

"  Of  this  section  of  the  route,  so  far  as  the  entrance  of  this 


i.rkanaa9 
ere  enter 
\g  many 
beautiful 

winters, 
ountains. 
its  head 
>nstantly 
itains  its 

remark- 
jrandeur 
ravellers 
3  or  the 
ed  into 
r  forests, 

uerftmo, 

at  the 

nded  by 

ntain  to 

ey  from 

bruptly 

om  the 

)etween 

e,  here 

nation 

[•ossinir 

nd  en- 

ch  the 

iiown 
ned  to 
is  con- 

soino 
utos. 
|)f  this 


PACIFIC    RAILROAD. 


403 


pass,  covering  twelve  degrees  of  longtitude,  I  am  able  to  speak 
frofn  actual  exploration,  and  to  say  that  the  line  described  is  not 
only  practicable,  but  affords  many  singular  facilities  for  the 
construction  of  a  railway,  and  offers  many  advantages  in  the 
fertile  and  wooded  country  through  which  it  lies  in  the  greater 
part  of  its  course. 

"  In  the  whole  distance  there  is  not  an  elevation  worthy  of  the 
name,  to  be  surmounted  ;  and  a  level  of  about  8,000  feet  is 
gained  almost  without  perceptible  ascent.  Upon  the  Kansas 
and  Huerfano  River  valleys,  the  country  is  wooded  and  watered  : 
the  valley  of  the  Del  Norte  is  open,  but  wood  is  abundant  in 
the  neighboring  mountains,  and  land  fit  for  cultivation  is  found 
almost  continuously  along  the  water  courses,  from  the  mouth 
of  the  Kansas  to  the  head  of  the  valley  of  the  Del  Norte. 

"A  journey  undertaken  in  the  winter  of  1848-49  (and  inter- 
rupted liere  by  entering  more  to  the  southward  the  rugged 
mountains  of  St.  John's,  one  of  the  most  impracticable  on  the 
continent),  was  iniended  to  make  a  correct  examination  of  this 
pass  and  the  country  beyond  to  the  rim  of  the  Great  Basin. 
The  failure  of  this  expedition  leaves  only  for  this  middle  posi- 
tion of  our  line  such  knowledge  as  we  have  been  able  to  obtain 
from  trappers  and  Indian  traders.  The  information  thus 
obtained  had  led  me  to  attempt  its  exploration,  as  all  accounts 
concurred  in  representing  it  practicable  for  a  roau,  and  these 
accounts  were  considered  sufficiently  reliable, 

"According  to  this  information,  the  same  structure  of  the 
country  to  whicih  I  have  called  your  attention  above,  as  forming 
a  system  among  the  mountains,  holds  good  here ;  and  I  ac(;ord- 
ingly  found  no  difficulty  in  believing  that  the  road  would  readily 
avoid  any  obstacles  which  might  be  presented  in  the  shape  of 
mountain  ranges,  and  easily  reach  the  basin.  In  pronouncing 
upon  the  practicability  of  a  road  through  this  section,  I  proceed 
therefore  upon  my  general  knowledge  of  the  face  of  the  country, 
upon  information  received  from  hunters  and  residents  in  New 
Mexico,  and  upon  the  established  fact  that  it  has  not  only  been 


•  I 


i! 


\\ 


i^ 


n   ''• 


404 


LIFE   AND   SERVICES   OF  JOHN    C.    FKEMONT. 


travelled,  but  at  all  seasons  of  the  year,  and  ia  one  of  the  travel- 
ling routes  from  New  Mexico  to  California. 

"  The  third  section  of  the  map  is  from  the  Wahsatch  Moun- 
tain to  the  Sierra  Nevada,  and  thence  to  the  Bay  of  San  Fran- 
cisco. This  route  traverses  the  Great  Basin,  presenting  three 
different  lines,  which  you  will  find  indicated  on  the  map. 
Repeated  journeys  have  given  me  more  or  less  knowledge  of  the 
country  along  these  lines,  and  I  consider  all  of  them  practicable, 
although  the  question  of  preference  remains  to  be  settled.  The 
northern  line  is  that  of  the  Humboldt  River,  which  althouoh 
deflecting  from  the  direct  course  of  the  bay,  commands  in  its 
approach  to  the  mountains  several  practicable  passes,  the  lowest 
of  which  is  4,500  feet  above  the  sea.  The  southern  line,  •vhich 
in  crossing  the  Basin  has  not  the  same  freedom  from  obstruction 
enjoyed  by  the  open  river  line  of  the  North,  is  still  entirely  prac- 
ticable, and  possesses  the  advantage  of  crossing  the  Sierra 
Nevada  at  a  remarkably  low  depression,  called  Walker's  Pass, 
more  comn^  .'y  known  as  the  Point  of  the  Mountains^  and  being 
in  fact,  a  termination  of  one  of  the  mountains  which  go  to  form 
that  chain. 

"  This  pass  is  near  the  35th  degree  of  latitude,  and  near  tho 
head  of  the  beautiful  and  fertile  valley  San  Joaquin,  which  the 
road  thence  would  follow  down  to  its  junction  with  the  Sacra- 
mento, or  to  some  point  on  the  bay.  This  route  deflects  to  the 
south  about  as  much  as  the  other  does  to  the  north,  but  secures 
a  good  way,  and  finds  no  obstacle  from  the  Sierra,  turning  that 
mountain  where  is  has  sunk  down  nearly  to  the  level  of  the 
country.  Among  the  recent  proceedings  of  the  California 
legislature,  resolutions  were  introduced  in  favor  of  beq-inning  in 
the  railway  at  that  pass. 

"  The  third  line,  which  is  the  middle  and  direct  line,  and  that 
to  which  I  give  a  decided  preference,  is  less  known  to  me  than 
either  of  the  others  :  but  I  believe  fully  in  its  practicability,  and 
only  see  the  principal  obstacle  to  be  overcome  is  the  Great  Sierra 
itself,  which  it  would  strike  near  its  centre.     That  obstacle  ia 


PACIFIC    RAILROAD. 


405 


that 
than 

and 
lerra 
!le  is 


not  considered  insurmountable,  nor  in  the  present  state  of  rail- 
way science,  sufficient  to  turn  us  from  the  direct  route.  A  pa?s 
is  known  as  indicated  by  the  line  upon  the  map,  which  labor 
v/ould  render  practicable.  Other  passes  are  also  known  to  the 
r'^i'th  and  south,  and  if  tunnelinfj  bectame  necessary,  the  struc- 
ture  of  the  mountains  is  such  as  to  allow  tunnels  to  be  used  with 
the  greatest  advantage.  Narrow  places  are  presented  wliere 
opposite  gorges  approach  each  other,  and  a  wall  of  some  two  or 
three  thousand  feet  often  separates  points  which  may  not  be 
more  than  a  quarter  of  a  mile  apart  at  its  base.  It  will  also  be 
remembered  that  the  Great  Basin  east  of  the  Sierra  Nevada,  has 
a  general  elevation  of  over  4,000  feet,  so  that  the  mountains 
would  be  approached  on  the  east  at  that  elevation  ;  on  the  west 
the  slope  is  wide,  though  descending  too  near  the  level  of  the 
tide  water. 

"  The  foregoing  remarks  embody  all  the  general  information 
I  am  now  able  to  give  upon  this  line.  The  first  section  of  it, 
from  the  Missouri  fiontier  to  the  head  of  the  Del  Norte  is 
explored,  and  needs  no  further  reconnoissances.  It  is  ready  for 
the  location  of  the  road  by  a  practical,  engineer.  The  second 
and  third  sections  require  further  explorations,  to  determine,  not 
upon  practicability,  but  upon  the  preference  due  to  one  over  the 
others. 

"  A  party  of  300  men,  skillfully  directed,  with  the  assistance  of 
three  or  four  practical  road  engineers,  would  be  sufficient  to 
lay  out  the  whole  routes,  and  clear  and  open  a  common  road  in 
the  course  of  next  spring  and  summer,  so  as  to  be  passable  for 
wagons  and  carriages,  and  as  rapidly  traversed  as  any  of  the 
common  roads  in  the  United  States. 

"  The  obstacles  I  have  not  mentioned  are  the  winter  impedi- 
ments of  snows,  and  the  temporary  one  from  the  hostility  of  the 
Indians.  The  latter  can  be  surmounted  by  military  stations 
sending  out  military  patrols  to  clear  and  scout  the  line.  The 
snows  are  less  formidable  than  would  be  supposed,  from  the 
great  elevation  of  the  central  part  of  the  route.     They  are  dry, 


406 


LIFE   AND   SERVICES   OF  JOHN   0.    FKEMONT. 


and  therefore  more  reidily  passed  through ;  are  thin  in  the 
valleys,  and  remain  only  during  a  very  brief  winter.  The  winter 
of  my  last  expedition  was  one  of  unprecedentedly  deep  and  early 
snows,  yet  in  the  vadey  of  the  Kansas  and  Arkansas  it  was  thin  ; 
in  the  valley  of  Huerfano,  none;  and  in  the  vail  ey  of  Del  Norte 
the  snow  was  only  three  feet  deep  ;  the  thermometer  at  zero  near 
midday. 

"'J'he  weather  in  these  high  mountains  and  deep  valleys  is  of  a 
character  adapted  to  such  localities — extremely  cold  on  the 
mountains,  while  temperate  in  the  valleys.  I  have  seen  it  storm- 
ing for  days  together  on  the  mountains  in  a  way  to  be  destruc- 
tive to  all  animal  life  exposed  to  it,  while  in  the  valley,  there 
would  be  a  pleasant  sunshine,  and  the  animals  feeding  on 
nutritious  grass.  Beyond  the  Rocky  Mountains,  the  cold  is  less» 
and  the  snows  become  a  less  and  more  transient  obstacle.  These 
are  my  views  of  a  route  for  the  road  or  roads  (a  common  one  is 
first  wanted),  from  the  Mississippi  to  the  Pacific.  It  fulfills,  in 
my  opinion,  all  the  conditions  for  a  route  for  a  national 
thoroughfare. 

•'  1st.  It  is  direct.  The  course  is  almost  a  straight  line.  St. 
Louis  is  between  38,  39;  San  Francisco  is  about  the  same;  the 
route  is  between  these  parallels,  or  nearly  between  them,  the 
whole  way. 

"2nd.  It  is  central  to  territory.  It  is  through  the  territorial 
centre  west  of  the  Mississippi,  and  its  prolongation  to  the  Atlan- 
tic ocean  would  be  central  to  the  States  east  of  that  river. 
It  is  also  central  to  business  and  population,  and  unites  the 
greatest  commercial  point  in  the  valley  of  the  Mississippi  with 
the  greatest  commercial  point  on  the  coast  of  the  Pacific. 

"3rd.  It  combines  the  advantages  for  making  and  preserving 
the  road,  wood,  water,  and  soil,  for  inhabitation  and  cultivation. 

"4th.  It  is  a  healthy  route.  No  diseases  of  any  kind  upon 
it;  and  the  valetudinarian  might  travel  it  in  his  own  vehicle,  on 
horse,  or  even  on  foot,  for  the  mere  restoration  of  health  and 
recovery  of  sp'"its. 


PACIFIC   RAILROAD. 


407 


"It  not  only  fulfills  all  the  conditions  of  a  national  route,  but 
it  is  preferable  to  any  other.  It  is  preferable  to  the  South 
Pass  from  being  nearly  four  degrees  furtiie-  south,  more  free 
from  open  plains,  and  from  the  crossing  of  great  rivers.  Its 
course  is  parallel  with  the  rivers,  there  being  but  one  (the 
Upper  Colorado),  directly  crossing  its  iine.  There  are  passes  at 
the  head  of  Arkansas,  in  the  Three  Parks,  and  north  of  them, 
but  none  equal  to  this  by  tho  Rio  del  Norte.  There  is  no  route 
north  of  it  that  is  compara.le  to  it;  I  believe  there  is  no  prac- 
ticable route  south  of  it  in  the  United  States.  The  disaster 
which  turned  me  south  from  the  head  of  the  Del  Norte  and  sent 
me  down  that  river,  and  to  the  mountains  around  to  the  Upper 
Gila,  enabled  me  to  satisfy  myself  on  that  point. 

"I  went  a  middle  route — a  new  way — between  the  Gila  River 
and  the  wagon-road  through  the  Mexican  province  of  Sonora 
and  am  satisfied  that  no  route  for  a  road  can  be  had  on  that 
line,  except  going  through  Mexico,  then  crossing  the  Great 
Colorado  of  the  West,  near  the  mouth  of  the  Gila,  to  cross  the 
desert  to  arrive  at  San  Diego,  and  still  be  six  hundred  miles  by 
land,  and  three  or  four  hundred  by  water,  from  the  Bay  of  San 
Francisco,  which  now  is  and  forever  must  be,  the  great  centre 
of  commerce,  wealth  and  power  on  the  American  coast  of  the 
Pacific  Ocean. 

"In  conclusion,  I  have  to  say  that  I  believe  in  the  practicabil- 
ity of  this  work,  a  id  that  every  national  consideration  requires 
it  to  be  done,  and  lo  be  done  at  once,  and  as  a  national  work  by 
the  United  States. 

"Your  obliged  fellow-citizen, 

"J.  C.  Fremont." 


iSI 


'Irt' 


408 


LIFE   AND   8EKVICE8   OF   JOHN   C.    FREMONT. 


CHAPTER  XYI. 

Fremont's  career  as   united  stated*   senator — speech 

ON     the    INDIAN    AGENCY    BILL SPEECH     ON     THE     BILL 

MAKING     TEMPORARY      PROVISIONS      FOR     WORKING     THE 

MINES    OF    CALIFORNIA — CHALLENGES    SENATOR    FOOTE 

FOOTe's     RETRACTION — FREMONt's      LETTER      ABOUT     THE 
AFFAIR. 

The  long  and  anxious  struggle  which  resulted  in  the 
admission  of  California  into  the  Union,  as  an  indepen- 
dent State,  with  a  constitutional  provision  against  slavery, 
is  familiar  to  the  country.  The  legii-hition  upon  the 
subject  was  consummated  on  the  9th  of  September, 
1850.  On  the  following  day,  the  Californian  senators 
presented  themselves  for  admission  to  their  seats. 
Colonel  Fremont's  credentials  were  submitted  by  Sena- 
tor Barnwell  of  South  Carolina,  who  remarked  in  doing 
BO,  that  "  it  was  well  known  he  entertained  the  strongest 
constitutional  objections  to  the  admission  of  California 
into  the  Union,  but  Congress  having  passed  an  act  for 
her  admission,  Mr.  Fremont's  admission  conld  not  be 
otherwise  than  very  acceptable."  Jefferson  Davis,  a 
senator  from  Mississippi,  moved  a  reference  of  the  cre- 
dentials to  a  committee,  on  the  ground  "  that  the  consti- 
tutional provisions  for  the  election  of  senators  could  not 


I    I' III.1  ll.uii»i.m 


UNITED    STATES    SENATOR. 


409 


-SPEECH 
IE  BILL 
m     THE 

?OOTE 

UT     THE 


i  in  the 

idepen- 

ilavery, 

)on  the 

ember, 

enators 

seats. 

Seiia- 

doina: 

ongest 

ifornia 

act  for 

not  be 

,vis,    a 

le  cre- 

3onsti- 

d  not 


have  been  complied  witli."  Senators  Mason  of  Virginia, 
Bullcr  of  South  Carolina,  and  Tiirney  of  TcMUK'ssee,  also 
favored  the  rcforonce.  Senators  Claj  of  Kentucky,  and 
Foote  of  Mississippi  o])poscd  the  reference,  wliich  was 
defeated  by  a  vote  of  36  to  12. 

The  new  senators  were  then  sworn  in,  and  imme- 
diately after,  the  Senate  proceeded  to  ascertain  by  lot 
the  class  or  length  of  senatorial  term  of  the  respective 
candidates.  The  shortest  term,  expiring  o)i  the  3d  day 
of  March,  1851,  was  drawn  by  Colonel  Fremont.  But 
three  weeks  remained  of  tlie  session  witlnn  which  to 
accomplish  anything  for  California.  No  time  was  to 
be  lost,  therefore,  in  doing  what  had  to  be  done.  On 
the  day  after  he  became  entitled  to  his  scat,  he  offered 
a  resolution  instructing  the  post-office  committee  to 
inquire  into  and  report  upon  the  expediency  of  estab- 
lishing seventeen  post  routes  in  California,  each  des- 
cribed in  the  resolution,  which  was  considered  by 
imaninu^us  consent,  and  agreed  to.  lie,  at  the  same 
time,  gave  notice  of  his  intention  on  the  following  or 
some  subsequent  day,  to  ask  leave  to  introduce  a  series 
of  bills,  designed  to  complete  the  political  organization 
of  California.  The  titles  of  those  bills  show  their  scope, 
and  the  statesmanlike  views  he  took  of  the  politi- 
cal needs  of  the  young  and  as  yet  governmentless 
State  which  he  represented.* 

*"  1.  A  bill  to  provide  for  the  recording  of  land  titles  in  California. 

"  2.  A  bill  to  provide  for  the  survey  of  the  public  lands  of  California. 

"3.  A  bill  to  provide  for  the  erection  of  land  offices  in  Caliibrnia. 

"  4.  A  bill  to  provide  for  the  settlement  of  private  land  claims  in  Cali 
fornia. 

"  5.  A  bill  to  grant  donations  of  land  to  settlers  before  the  cession  of 
the  country  to  the  United  States,  and  pre-emption  rights  to  all  subse- 
quent settlers. 


I  ■< 


410 


LTFK    AND   8i:ilVICKS   OB'   JOHN    C.    FREMONT. 


On  tlic  14tli  of  Sc'ptcMiiber  he  had  leave  to  introchico 
a  bill  to  make  teinj>()rary  proviriiuiis  lor  tlie  working 
and  discovery  of  gold  uiiiKs  and  placers  in  California, 
and  for  jjreserviiig  order  in  the  gold  mine  district.  The 
bill,  he  stated,  had  been  drawn  np  with  great  care  ;  ho 
had  reviewed  the  Spanish  laws,  extending  over  a  space 
of  three  hnndred  years,  and  had  endeavored  to  embody 
in  the  bill  all  that  he  considered  applicable  to  our  ago 
and  institutions. 

On  the  same  day,  the  bill  authorizing  the  President 
to  appoint  Indian  agents  in  California  being  under  con- 
sideration, Senator  Atchison,  from  the  Committee  on 
Indian  Afi'airs,  stated  that  he  was  entirely  unable  to 
communicate  to  the  Semite  the  information  that  they 
would  probably  require.  The  committee,  he  said,  did 
not  know  the  number  of  tribes  of  Indians,  nor  the  nuni- 


"  6.  A  bill  to  regulate  the  working  of  mines  in  California. 

"7.  A  bill  to  extend  the  laws  and  judicial  system  of  the  United  States 
to  the  State  of  California. 

"  8.  A  bill  to  refund  to  said  State  duties  collected  at  San  Francisco  and 
other  ports,  before  the  custoin-houao  laws  were  extended  to  it. 

*'  9.  A  bill  to  grant  said  State  public  lands  for  purposes  of  education. 

'*  10.  A  bill  to  grant  six  townships  for  a  university. 

•'11.  A  bill  to  grant  land  to  aid  in  couhlriict'ng  public  buildings. 

"12.  A  bill  to  grant  land  for  asylums  for  the  deaf  and  dumb,  for  the 
blind  and  insane. 

"  13.  A  bill  to  relinquish  to  the  city  of  San  Francisco  certain  public 
grounds  no  longer  needed  for  public  purposes. 

"  14.  A  bill  to  grant  to  the  State  of  California  twelve  salt  springs,  with 
a  section  of  ground  around  each. 

"15.  A  bill  to  grant  to  the  city  of  Monterey  the  old  government  house 
and  its  grounds. 

"16.  A  bill  to  provide  for  opening  a  road  across  the  continent. 
'       "  17.  A  bill  to  grant  land  for  internal  improvement. 

"18.  A  bill  to  preserve  peace  among  the  Indian  tribes,  by  providing 
for  the  extinction  of  their  titles  to  the  gold  districts." 


UNITED   STATF.a   BRNATOR. 


411 


ber  of  Indijins  witliiii  the  Sfate  of  Callfoniia,  nor  tlio 
kind  of  titly  by  wliicli  tlioy  held  tlieir  hiiuls ;  ho  tluTc- 
f(»ro  reft'iTod  the  Sciuite  fur  further  information,  to  the 
bonators  from  Culiforniji. 

AVliurcnpon    Col.    Fremont   proceeded    to   wtate   liis 
reasons  for  introducing  the  bill,  as  follows  : 


BPKKCH   or   COL.  FREMONT  IN  TIIK    UNITKD   STATKS   .SENATE,    ON   THE    INDIAN 

AGENT    HILL. 


"Tho  p^onoral  polioy  of  Spain  in  l\cr  Indian  relations,  was  tlio  same  a:» 
that  wliicii  was  al'tcrwards  ailoplcd  by  all  FJuropp,  and  rocof^nizod  by  the 
United  States.  The  Indian  rij^ht  of  occupation  was  respected,  but  the 
ultimate  dominion  remained  in  the  Crown.  Wherever  the  policy  of  Spaiu 
differed  from  that  of  the  other  European  nations,  it  was  always  in  favor 
of  Indians.  Grants  of  land  were  always  made  subj(>ft  to  their  rifijhts  of 
occupancy,  reservin<^  to  them  the  right  to  resume  it,  even  in  cases  where 
it  had  been  abandoned  at  the  time  of  the  grant.  But  the  Indian  right  to 
the  lands  in  pro|)erty,  under  the  Spanish  laws,  consistetl  not  merely  iu 
po-ssession,  but  extended  even  to  that  of  alienation  ;  a  right  recognized 
and  alHrmed  in  the  decisions  of  tht;  Supreme  Court  of  the  United  States. 
A  claim  to  lands  in  East  Florida,  under  a  title  derived  from  grants  by  tho 
Creek  and  Seminole  Indians,  and  ratified  by  the  local  authorities  of  Spaiu 
before  the  cession  of  I'lorida  to  the  United  States,  was  confirmed. 

•'  I  have  here  in  my  hand  a  volume  of  Spanish  laws,  pul)lished  in  the 
city  of  Mexico  in  1S49,  and  purporting  to  contain  all  the  legislation  on 
this  subject,  which  was  iu  force  in  Mexico  up  to  that  date.  These  laws 
extend  from  1533,  some  twelve  years  after  the  concjuest  of  Mexico  by 
Cortez,  to  1817.  The  policy  of  Spain  in  regard  to  the  Indians  difl'ered 
somewhat  from  that  of  the  United  States,  and  particularly  in  this  :  that, 
instead  of  removing  the  Indians  from  amidst  the  Spanish  population, 
it  kept  them  there  and  protected  them  in  the  possession  of  their  lands 
among  their  civilized  neighbors  ;  having  always  in  view  the  leading  object 
of  converting  them  to  the  Christian  religion.  To  this  end  the  power  of 
the  government  was  alwaysdirected  ;  it  was  a  national  object,  and  in 
great  part  was  a  governing  principle  in  the  laws  of  which  they  were  tho 
subject.  I  will  not  occupy  the  time  of  the  Senate  by  reading  at  length  the 
several  laws,  but  will  merely  make  a  few  statements  of  such  particular 
parts  as  bear  directly  upon  the  riglils  in  ((UL'-ttiou. 


412 


LIFIi    AND   BEKVICKS   UK  JOHN    C.    FKLMONT. 


m 


*'  A  royal  order  of  Clmrlos  V.  (a  supromo  law  hi  Spain),  of  the  year 
ISnS,  (U'crt'i'd  tliut  tlip  wootJH,  piiNtiire  huuU,  ami  wator  coiituiiu'd  in  any 
grants  of  soi^jniorit's,  wliicli  had  hocn  or  slionld  he  inado  in  tiio  Indios, 
hIioiiIiI  l»i«  cornnion  to  Spaniardn  and  Indian?^.  Anotlier  royal  order  of 
lt)87  (eonlirniin;^  and  oxtendin<r  an  ordinance  of  the  viceroy,  ('onnt  Saint 
Stephen,  of  tiie  year  lr)(i7)  connnanded  that  in  all  the  villages  of  the 
Indians  tliroujfliout  all  Sew  Spain,  wlio  needed  land  to  live  upon  and  sow, 
there  nhonld  Ije  given  to  tlieni  a  space  of  Tjim)  yards,  and  as  much  more 
as  they  Imd  any  need  of  for  cultivation  around  tlieir  village,  measuring 
from  the  furthest  outside  house,  and  if  the  village  happened  to  he  a  largo 
one  an  uidimited  r|uantity  should  he  allowed,  an<l  that  thereafter  no  grant 
of  pustiu-e  grouiiil  or  land  should  he  given  to  any  one  within  eleven 
liundred  yards  of  tiu>  most  outside  house  of  the  |)opulation. 

"A  law  of  I'hilip  III.  of  UllH,  ordained  that  no  pasture  grounds  of 
black  catth"  should  be  situated  within  a  league  and  a  half  of  any  village 
converted  in  old  times  of  the  ('In-istian  religion,  and  not  within  three 
leagues  of  any  villages  of  newly  converted  Indians,  npon  pain  of  forfeit- 
ing the  pasture  ground  and  half  the  cattle  which  there  should  be  upon  it, 
and  the  Indians  had  the  right  to  kill  any  cattle  which  should  be  so  found 
trespassing  upon  their  lands,  and  were  subject  to  no  penally  whatsoever 
from  them. 

"  A  decree  of  Philip  IV.  ordained  that  the  sale,  improvement  and 
location  of  lands,  should  be  made  with  such  attention  to  the  Indians,  that 
they  should  be  left  with  a  superfluity  beyond  all  the  lands  which  might 
belong  to  them,  as  well  individually  as  in  communities,  together  with 
waters  and  water  privileges,  and  the  lands  upon  which  they  might  have 
made  canals  for  irrigation,  or  any  other  improvements,  should  be  reserved 
to  them  in  the  first  place,  and  in  no  case  were  they  to  be  sold  or  alienated 
from  them. 

'*  The  Spanish  law  likewise  recognizes  the  Indian  right  to  alienate,  and 
prescribed  the  terras  and  mode  in  which  such  alienation  shall  l)e  legal.  A 
decree  of  Philip  11.  of  1571,  commanded  that  the  Indians  should  have 
the  right  to  alienate  their  landed  property  as  well  as  their  personal  effects, 
prescribing  oidy  that  proclamation  should  be  made  during  a  specified 
time,  and  at  a  place  of  public  sale.  We  have  here  a  circular  of  the  royal 
audience  of  Guadalajara  of  1817,  reviving  for  information,  and  to  correct 
abuses,  a  decree  of  one  of  the  superior  tribunals  of  Mexico,  which 
annulled  a  sale  of  the  rancho  of  Tena  Banca,  made  by  the  Indians  of 
Colchis,  for  a  failure  to  comply  with  the  forms  prescribed  by  law.  la 
California  we  have  both  classes  of  Indians — the  Christian  or  converted 
Indians,  collected  together  at  the  missions  and  in  large  villages  at  the  sea- 


T. 


UNiriill)   STATKsJ    SKXATOK. 


4l;j 


of  the  yonr 

iiiiHMl  in  any 

1  tlie  IiiilioH, 

III   order  of 

Coinif  Siiiiifc 

lll<^t!S  of   tlio 

)on  uiid  .sow, 
I  much  more 
',  niciisiiriiig 
to  ))(•  a  Iiirgo 
■t»»r  no  grunt 
illiin  eleven 

grountl.s  of 
any  village 
vitliin  tliree 
n  of  forfcit- 
1  be  upon  it, 
be  so  found 
whutHoe  ver 

emcnt  and 
ndians,  that 
hich  might 
gethor  with 
might  have 
be  reserved 
or  alienated 

lienate,  and 
)e  legal.  A 
hould  have 
onal  effects, 

a  .specified 
of  the  royal 
1  to  correct 
ico,  which 
[ndians  of 
)y  law.  la 
[•  converted 

at  the  sea- 


con.st  and  the  interior,  and  the  wild  Indians  of  the  mountain.s  who  never 
were   reduced  to  sulijeetion. 

"The  .MtatenienfM  I  have  given,  Mr.  President,  are  Humcient  to  show 
th»t  tlie  Spanish  law  clearly  and  altsolntdy  secured  to  Indians  fixed 
rights  of  property  in  the  lands  they  ot-eupy,  beyond  wliat  is  admitted  l»y 
this  government  in  its  ndations  with  its  own  domestic  tribes,  and  that 
Borne  particular  provision  will  be  necessary  in  order  to  divest  them  of 
these  rights.  In  ('alifornia  we  are  at  this  iiiomeiu  invading  these  riglits. 
We  lived  there  by  the  strong  hand  alone.  Tiie  Indians  dis|)ute  our  rights 
to  be  there,  and  they  extend  the  privilege  which*  the  law  secured  them 
of  killing  the  cattle  to  that  of  killing  the  owner  wlienever  tliey  find  an 
occasion.  Our  occu|)ation  is  in  conllict  with  tliem,  and  it  is  to  render 
this  occupation  legal  and  e{putal)le,  and  to  prtrserve  tlie  peace,  that  I  havo 
introduced  this  l)ill.  It  recommends  itself  to  the  favorable  consiilcration 
of  the  Senate  by  its  obvious  necessity,  and  because  it  is  right  in  itself, 
becau.se  it  is  politic,  and  because  it  is  conformable  to  the  estal>lished 
custom  of  this  government. 

At  tho  end  of  the  debate  the  bill  was  reported  to  tlio 
Senate,  and  ordered  to  be  engrossed  for  a  third  reading. 

On  the  25th,  the  bill  making  temporary  provision  for 
working  the  California  mines,  being  under  considera- 
tion, Senator  Felch  of  Michigan,  moved  a  substitute  as 
an  amendment  to  the  whole  bill,  and  made  a  long 
speech  in  its  favor. 

Mr.  Fremont  answered  him  in  the  longest  speech  that 
he  delivered  during  the  session,  and  judged  by  its  results 
one  of  the  most  effective,  for  it  disposed  of  all  opposition, 
and  the  bill  passed  the  Senate  unanimously.  We  give 
the  speech  entire : 

"  The  very  advanced  period  of  the  session  when  we  obtained  our  seats 
and  were  able  to  bring  forward  the  California  business,  induced  me  to 
take  a  course  in  relation  to  our  bills  which  I  thought  most  agreea))le  to 
the  Senate  and  best  suited  to  secure  for  them  a  favorable  consideration. 
This  was  not  to  use  the  indulgence  of  the  Senate  for  making  speeches,  but 
to  confine  myself  to  a  brief  exposition  of  the  nature  and  principles  of  a 
bill  when  it  should  be  called  up,  and  then  to  answer,  as  well  as  I  could, 


•V;  ■ ! 


il , 


Ih. 


'•t 


I 
p 

m 

'¥ 

1 1 

If 

t 

t 

i; 

414 


LIKE   AND   SERVICES   OF  JOHN   C.    FREMONT. 


the  huiuirios  and  objections  of  scMiatora  oitlicr  to  principles  or  details.  But 
I  find  such  a  oouive  dillicult  on  this  bill,  which  introduces  a  new  subject, 
and  one  which,  IVoni  its  novelty  and  importance,  excites,  and  ouj^ht  to 
excite,  much  interest,  and  requires  close  examination.  The  principles  of 
this  bill,  as  I  have  already  stated  them,  arc  to  exclude  all  idea  of  mukinj^ 
a  national  revenue  out  of  those  mines,  to  prevent  the  possibility  of  mon- 
opolies by  moneyed  capitalists,  and  to  give  to  nati;iul  capital,  that  is 
to  say,  r.AiioK  and  indu.stry,  a  fair  chanec  to  work,  and  the  secure  enjoy- 
ment of  what  they  find.  To  carry  out  these  principles  to  their  just 
results,  all  the  details  of  the  bill  are  carefully  directed. 

"The  senator  from  Michif^an  (Mr.  Felch)  who  has  made  the  motion  to 
Btrike  out  the  whole  bill,  and  to  insert  a  substitute,  does  not  object  to  tho 
principles,  but  on  the  contrary,  supports  them,  and  objects  oidy  to 
details.  Adopting  the  i)rinciples  of  the  bill  and  its  leading  provision.'-:, 
he  ol)jects  to  the  machinery  as  we  may  call  it,  of  executing  the  system  ; 
objects  to  the  agents,  to  the  permits,  and  of  course  to  the  small  sum 
•which  is  to  be  paid  for  the  permit.  Ue  would  seem  to  leave  the  law  to  ex- 
ecute itself;  that  is  to  say,  leave  every  num  to  act  for  himself  under  the 
law.  If  the  honorable  senator  were  as  fiimiliar  with  the  workings  of 
things  in  California  as  we  who  have  drawn  up  the  bill,  for  which  he 
proposes  his  substitute,  I  believe  he  would  never  have  introduced  sucli  a 
proposition.  It  would  never  work  well  anywhere,  but  would  throw  every- 
thing into  disorder  and  confusion,  and  make  every  man  judge  and  jury 
in  his  own  case.  Laws  must  have  oflicers  to  execute  tliem,  and  I  think 
none  could  be  more  cheap,  convenient,  and  suitable  to  the  people  thau 
suth  as  this  bill  provides.  la  the  first  plact>,  there  are  agents,  who 
are  to  reside  each  in  a  gold-mine  district,  grant  the  permits  to  applicants, 
visit  the  mines,  and  with  a  jury  of  six  disinterested  men,  settle  all  dis- 
putes equitably  and  promptly,  and  without  the  delay  and  expense  of  a 
resort  to  a  court  of  justice  for  every  little  question  which  grows  up  among 
the  miners.  To  see  that  the  agents  are  faithful  and  attentive,  a  super- 
intendent of  gold-mines  is  created,  whose  business  it  is  to  superin- 
tend all  the  agents,  examine  their  books  and  accounts,  hear  complaints 
against  them,  take  ajjpeals  from  their  decisions,  and  suspend  them  and 
appoint  others  in  case  of  misconduct.  The  superintendent  is  thus  armed 
with  strong  power,  not  over  the  miners,  but  over  the  agents,  and  for  the 
benefit  of  the  miners.  It  was  considered  necessary  to  have  this  stron^. 
controlling  power  present  with  the  agents  and  tiie  miners,  that  all  possi- 
ble attention  should  be  paid  for  the  faithful  execution  of  the  act,  and  the 
immediate  redress  of  all  wrongs.  The  superintendent  is  necessary  to  give 
regularity  to  the  operation  of  the  agents,  to  hold  them  all  accountable  and 


a._ 


T. 


UNITED   STATES   SENATOR. 


41 


o 


details.  But 
new  sulijoct, 
vnd  ought  «o 
principles  of 
liii  ol'  niiil<in{;j 
ility  of  inou- 
PiTAL,  that  is 
ocuro  onjoy- 
to  their  just 

he  motion  to 
oliject  to  the 
L'cts   only  to 
;   provision!-;, 
the  system  ; 
:?  small  sum 
>e  law  to  cx- 
If  under  the 
workings  of 
)r  whicii  he 
luced  such  a 
hrow  every- 
ge  and  jury 
and  I  think 
people   thau 
agents,  who 
>  applicants, 
ttle   all   dis- 
cpense  of  a 
vs  up  among 
ve,  a  super- 
to   superin- 
t'omplaints 
1  them  and 
thus  armed 
and  lor  the 
this  strong, 
at  all  possi- 
Lct,  and  the 
iary  to  give 
aitable  and 


to  be  the  head  of  the  system.  To  accomplish  these  purposes,  an  autiio- 
rity  upon  the  spot  is  indispensable.  The  gorges  of  the  Sierra  Nevada  arc 
too  remote  from  the  metropolitan  government — the  President  is  too  far 
off  to  observe  the  conduct  of  agents,  to  hear  comjjlaiiits,  redress  wrongs, 
or  dismiss  the  unfaithful.  It  would  be  e(|uivalent  to  no  redress  for  inju- 
ries, if  a  miner  who  is  wronged  is  obliged  to  send  his  complaint  to  Wash- 
ington City,  and  prove  it  up  at  that  distance  from  the  scene  of  his  com- 
plaint. 

"  The  quantity  allowed  to  each  person  is  ample  considering  the  privi- 
lege he  has  of  changing  his  location  as  often  as  he  pleases,  and  selling  his 
lot  when  he  is  offered  a  good  jjrice.  Thirty  feet  sciuare  is  to  be  the  size 
of  a  lot,  to  be  worked  by  manual  laltor,  in  a  placer;  two  hundred  and  ten 
feet,  or  about  one  acre,  is  to  be  the  size  of  a  lot  in  a  mine  to  be  worked 
by  machinery,  in  the  rock. 

"  A  placer  lot,  accordingly,  contains  nine  hundred  superficial  feet,  with 
a  depth  to  the  centre  of  the  earth.  A  cul)e  of  these  dimensions  would 
be  twenty-seven  thousand  solid  feet ;  and  if  a  i)lucer  of  tolerable  richness 
is  found,  an  industrious  man  might  say  his  fuitune  is  made.  Sooner  or 
later  every  industrious  man  may  ex])ect  to  find  a  good  lot,  and  whether 
he  sells  it  or  works  it,  his  reward  will  be  ample, 

"If  he  sells,  he  may  take  another  permit,  and  work  on  until  he 
makes  another  good  discovery,  and  either  sells  that  or  exhausts  it ;  and 
60  on,  until  he  is  satisfied,  or  the  mining  is  exhausted.  Wherever  he 
may  plant  his  stake,  exclusive  possession  is  guaraiited  to  the  miner,  so 
long  as  he  works  his  mining  lot,  or  to  his  assignee,  if  sold,  or  to  his 
legal  representatives,  in  the  event  of  his  death.  All  that  he  finds  is  to  be 
his  own — there  is  no  tax  to  lie  paid;  no  per  centum — no  fifth,  or  tenth 
or  twentieth  to  the  government ;  no  olHcer  to  stand  over  the  miner  and 
require  him  to  give  an  account  of  all  he  finds,  and  surrender  up  a  part  to 
the  federal  government — all  is  his  own  that  he  has  the  industry  to  col- 
lect; and  for  these  multiplied  advantages,  with  the  ])rotection  of  law  and 
the  security  of  order,  the  citizen  pays  only  one  dollar  a  month  for  as 
many  months  as  he  may  choose,  not  exceeding  twelve,  with  a  pre-emptive 
right  to  continue  his  own  lot.  This  nominal  sum  of  one  dollar  a  month 
is  all  that  the  bill  proposes  for  him  to  pay  ;  and  while  it  will  b(!  sufticient 
to  indemnify  the  government  for  all  ex[)enses,  and  to  yield  a  respectable 
sum  besides,  it  will  be  no  burden  on  the  miner ;  he  will  nut  feel  it,  but 
will  pay  it  cheerfully  in  return  for  the  advantages  which  tlie  permit 
secures  him. 

"  Under  this  system  every  industrious  man — every  one  wlio  has 
courage  to  persevere,  to  try  in  new  places  until  fortune  favors  him — will 


^H 


416 


LIFE   AND    SERVICES  OF  JOHN   C.    FREMONT. 


i'i.iif 


n  '3 


i;  I 


II 


f\ 


feel  assured  that  his  fortune  is  in  his  own  hands.  For  the  more  extended 
and  regular  operations  by  machinery,  the  uiniensions  of  the  parcel  of 
mining  ground  fixed  by  this  bill,  are  210  feet  square,  or  about  one  acre. 
In  a  mineral  country,  reputed  to  be  of  such  extraordinary  richness,  their 
dimensions  were  considered, abundantly  large  for  the  mine  itself,  and  suffi- 
ciently so  to  afford  room  for  temporury  buildings  in  the  beginning  of  ope- 
rations. Hereafter,  when  the  mineral  district  shall  be  better  known,  and 
tlie  locality  of  the  lodes  or  veins  precisely  marked  out,  larger  contiguous 
spaces  may  be  granted  to  miners  for  the  construction  of  the  buildings 
absolutely  necessary  for  extensive  works.  In  the  meantime,  it  should  be 
remembered  that  these  veins  will  occur  in  tracts  of  ground  rich  in  loose 
gold,  and  that  all  the  advantages  attending  a  permit  to  work  a  placer, 
apply  to  the  permit  to  work  a  mine,  of  which  the  superficial  contents  are 
about  44,000  feet,  and  thirty  feet  depth,  of  which  would  be  one  million 
three  hundred  and  twenty  thousand  soHd  feet.  The  dimensions  of  a  lot 
of  raining  ground  are  therefore  about  fifty  times  greater  than  those  of  a 
placer's  lot.  For  these  great  advantages  we  propose  that  the  govern- 
ment should  ask  only  twenty-five  dollars  a  month,  one  dollar  a  month 
being  the  sum  fixed  for  a  placer  permit,  and  the  permit  for  a  mine  is 
therefore  only  half  that  for  a  placer,  fifty  to  one  being  the  proportion 
between  them. 

"  The  bill  contains  beneficial  provisions  in  favor  of  first  discoverers : 
they  are  to  have  double  quantity,  without  the  payment  of  any  fee,  and 
with  the  privilege  of  a  pre-emptive  right.  These  privileges  have  been 
recognized  as  just  and  politic  under  the  laws  of  eA-ery  mining  nation. 
Under  the  regulations  of  the  new  code,  Spain  granted  to  a  discoverer  as 
many  mining  lots  as  he  chose  to  stake  out  upon  the  vein,  and  under  tlio 
mining  ordinances  of  New  .Spain  several  such  lots  were  granted  to  tlio 
discoverer,  and  upon  as  many  veins  as  he  might  discover  in  an  entirely 
new  mineral  ridge.  It  is  only  a  proper  reward  to  an  industrious  dis- 
coverer, and  an  inducement  to  prosecute  researches  which  result  in  great 
benefit  to  the  country.  The  discoverer  of  a  new  placer,  or  of  a  new 
mine,  therefore,  will  have  a  full  reward  for  his  enterprise,  and  his  expen- 
diture in  time  and  money. 

"  Five  per  centum  of  the  proceeds  from  the  sale  of  the  permits  is  to  go 
to  the  State  of  Calilbrnia  for  the  purposes  of  internal  improvement. 
This  is  upon  the  principle  of  the  sale  of  the  public  lands.  When  sold  by 
the  United  States,  five  per  centum  is  paid  to  the  State  for  that  purpose. 
In  this  case  the  mines  are  to  be  worked  out  before  the  land  is  sold,  and  a 
considerable  amount  received,  even  at  the  low  rates  proposed.  A 
hundred  thousand  permits  would  bring  above  a  million  and  a  quarter  per 


UNITED    STATF3    SENATOR. 


417 


e  extended 
parcel  of 
t  one  acre, 
mesa,  their 
f,  and  suffl- 
ing  of  ope- 
nown,  and 
contiguous 
e  buildings 
t  should  be 
h  in  loose 
k  a  placer, 
)ntcnts  are 
nc  million 
IS  of  a  lot 
those  of  a 
le  govern- 
'  a  month 
a  mine  is 
proportion 

icoverers : 
y  fee,  and 
lave  been 
ig  nation, 
overer  as 
under  the 
ed  to  the 
11  entirely 
lious  dib- 
t  in  grout 
•f  a  now 
IS  expen- 

^  is  to  go 
)vemont, 
sold  by 
purpose, 
d,  and  a 
sed.  A 
rter  per 


annum.  Five  per  centum  upon  one  million  would  be  $.50,000  per 
annum  to  the  State — a  sum  which  could  be  beneficially  expended  in 
opening  communications  through  the  country. 

"  The  system  is  temporary,  and  is  to  continue  only  until  superseded 
by  a  better.  I  am  doubtful  if  a  better  one  will  be  found,  and  think 
rather  that  it  will  continue  until  the  placers  are  exhausted ;  when  the 
gold  region  can  very  properly  be  sold  as  other  lands.  The  mode  of 
taking  eftbct  of  this  system  is  equitable  and  proper,  going  into  effect, 
when  the  agent  arrives  into  a  district  and  promulgates  the  law.  In  the 
meantime  there  is  no  prohibition  to  work,  but  every  man  works  on,  and 
holds  a  preemptive  right  to  the  lot  which  he  occupies.  In  this  way  the  law 
would  go  into  effect,  without  any  interruption  to  the  work  which  is  going 
on,  or  without  any  shock  to  existing  operations,  and  without  retroactive 
operations  upon  anything  that  has  been  done.  In  fact  all  the  details  of 
the  bill  are  carefully  calculated  to  carry  out  its  great  loading  principle — 
that  of  giving  to  labor  and  industry  a  fair  chance,  and  to  save  the  mines 
from  becoming  a  monopoly  either  in  the  hands  of  the  government  to 
make  revenue,  or  in  the  hands  of  moneyed  capitalists  to  amass  princely 
fortunes.  I  am  glad  to  find  that  the  Senate  evinces  no  disposition  to 
create  revenue  by  having  taxes  on  the  gold  mines  of  our  State,  and  that 
the  liberal  principles  of  this  bill,  from  the  votes  already  taken,  are  likely 
to  prevail  in  this  chamber. 

"  I  think  that  this  government  should  look  for  increase  of  revenues,  to 
the  expanded  commerce  which  the  discovery  of  these  gold  mines  has 
created  in  the  Pacific  Ocean. 

"  Oppressive  taxes  on  the  precious  metals  are  well  suited  to  a  govern- 
ment like  that  of  Spain,  which  derived  one  of  its  chief  supports  from  its 
mines  in  New  Spain,  which  constituted  its  mint ;  which  used  the  labor  of 
the  people  only  to  create  revenue ;  which  demanded  from  them  the  first 
fruits  of  the  earth,  and  taxed  everything  which  it  did  not  monopolize, 
and  everything  in  the  same  proportion — agricultural  products  as  well  as 
mines — a  tenth  of  the  whole  and  all  to  support  the  extravagant 
expenditures  of  its  arbitrary  nionarchs.  In  consequence  of  these  oppres- 
sive exactions,  ninety-nine  were  ruined  out  of  a  hundred,  who  engaged 
in  gold  mining  operations  in  her  dependencies.  But  we  have  adopted  a 
wiser  course.  Reason  and  experience  teach  us  the  fol'y  as  well  as  the 
injustice  of  attempting  such  exactions  from  the  peojjle.  We  have 
seen  their  failure  on  a  small  scale  on  our  own  lead-mine  leasing,  and  we 
have  before  us  the  result  of  their  operation  under  the  elaborate  system 
and  arbitrary  power  of  Spain,  which,  with  all  thoir  extravagant  taxes, 
yielded — in  those  years  of  which  I  have  any  account,  and  at  a  flourishing 

18-^- 


418 


LIFE   AND   SERVICES   OF  JOHN   C.    FREMONT. 


period  of  the  mines — a  revenue  of  only  about  $00,000  per  annum  from 
the  gold  mines  of  New  Spain.  Mexico  found  out  the  folly  of  this  course 
and  immediately  after  her  independence  in  1831  abolished  these  multiplied 
taxes,  and  substituted  for  them  all  a  simple  duty  of  three  per  cent. 
Uravy  taxes  had  almost  destroyed  this  branch  of  her  revenues,  and 
liberiil  provisions  were  made  to  resuscitate  it.  The  quicksilver  mines 
were  given  to  all  who  would  work  them,  free  of  all  tax  and  all  kind  of 
duty.  Rewards  of  $25,000  each  were  decreed  to  the  first  four  operators 
who  should  extract  a  certain  (juantity  of  the  metal — the  miners  were 
exempted  from  all  personal  contributions  and  all  military  service — and 
all  to  restore  what  taxation  had  ruined.  We  cannot,  certainly  go  back 
from  what  Mexico  has  done,  and  take  up  the  abandoned  system  of  old 
Spain ;  and  I  trust  that,  while  we  repudiate  taxation,  we  shall  also  avoid 
anarchy  and  disorder,  and  give  to  the  country  some  such  brief  and  simple 
code  of  regidations,  as  will  secure  to  every  man  the  peaceable  exercise 
of  his  industry,  and  the  possession  and  enjoyment  of  what  he  gains." 

'*  In  conclusion,  I  trust  that  the  substitute  will  be  "ejected  and  that 
the  principles  of  the  bill  will  remain  as  now  fixed." 

During  the  brief  period  that  the  Senate  remained  in 
session  after  his  admission  to  its  deliberations,  Colonel 
f  reniont  confined  himself  almost  exclusively  to  Califor- 
nia business  and  to  measures  which,  though  of  the 
greatest  concern  at  that  time  to  California  have  now  lost 
much  if  not  all  of  their  public  interest.*    His  speeches 

*  During  the  brief  period  of  Col.  Fremont's  attendance  in  the  Senate, 
ho  gave  two  or  three  votes  on  questions  relating  to  slavery  which  have  far 
more  interest  now  than  when  they  were  given. 

On  the  12th  of  September,  the  second  day  after  taking  his  seat,  the 
bill  to  suppress  the  yliivo-tnide  in  tlio  District  of  Columbia  being  under 
consideration,  Senator  Sewaid,  moved  to  strike  out  the  whole  bill  from 
its  enacting  clause,  and  insert  a  provision  for  the  ahohtion  of  Slavery  in 
the  District  altogether.  The  amendment  was  rejected,  as  it  was  expected 
to  be,  the  vote  standing  Yeas  5,  Nays  45.  Among  the  Nays  with  Col. 
Fremont  were  such  Nortiiern  men  as  Roger  S.  Baldwin  of  Connecticut, 
John  Davis  of  Massachusetts,  Thomas  Ewing  of  Ohio,  H.  Hamlin  of 
Maine,  Truman  Smith  of  Connecticut,  and  R.  C.  Winthrop  of  Massachu- 
setts. They  all  thought,  doubtless,  that  course  was  best  adopted  to  secure 
the  practical  result  at  which  they  aimed,  the  breaking  up  of  the  slave 


UNITED    STATES    SENATOR. 


410 


nnum  from 
this  course 

I  multiplied 
per  cent. 

enues,  ami 
ilver  mines 

II  kind  of 
operators 

iners  were 
[•vice — and 
y  go  back 
em  of  old 
also  avoid 
md  simple 
e  exercise 
ains." 
1  and  that 


inecl  in 
Colonel 
Ciilifor- 
of  the 
low  lost 
peeclies 

le  Senate, 
1  have  far 

seat,  the 
ng  under 
bill  from 
llavery  in 
expected 
vith  Col. 
necticut, 
[imlin  of 
lassachu- 
to  secure 
he  slave 


though  numerous  were  always  brief  and  in  tlieir  struc- 
ture almost  exclusively  expository,  lie  was  looked  to 
as  the  final  authority  upon  all  questions  of  fact  in  rehi- 
lion  to  the  Icgislr.tion  required  for  California,  and  never 
rose  without  hav'inij:  somethinj^  to  sav,  and  alwavs  sat 
down  when  he  iiad  said  it.  lie  displayed  great  cleurnoss 
and  precision  of  statement  in  the  few  forensic  efiui'ls 
which  are  reported,  and  established  a  character  for 
modesty,  good  sense  and  integrity  among  his  associates 
in  the  Senate  which  has  survived  all  the  political  dis- 
ruptions and  alienations  which  have  since  overtaken 
the  party  with  which  he  was  acting. 

But  one  incident  occurred  to  mar  the  entire  harmony 
of  his  intercourse  with  his  brother  senators,  and  that 

pens  and  the  slave  auctions  in  the  national  capital — and  on  the  16th  of 
September  the  bill  parsed,  Fremont  and  Dayton  voting  with  all  the 
Northern  Senators  in  its  favor — Atchison,  Jofl'.  Davis,  Butler,  and  their 
partisans  in  the  negative.  During  the  pendency  of  the  ])ill  for  the  sup- 
pression of  the  District  slave-trade,  several  votes  were  taken  which 
proved  plainly  enough  Col.  Fremont's  deep  and  constant  sympathy  with 
the  cause  of  freedom.  On  the  14th  of  September,  an  amendment  was 
pending  providing  that  if  a  free  person  should  entice  or  induce  a  slave 
to  run  away,  or  should  harbor  any  such,  he  should  be  immured  In  the 
District  Penitentiary  five  years.  The  vote  was  a  close  one— Yeas  22, 
Nays  26.  Fremont  voted  No.  Among  the  Yeas  were  Barnwell  and 
Butler  of  S.  C,  Dawson  and  Berrien  of  Ga.  (the  State  in  which  Fremont 
was  born),  Jeff.  Davis,  Soule,  Foote,  Hunter  and  Mason  of  Va.,  W.  It. 
King,  Rusk  and  others.  Among  the  Noes  were  Fremont  and  Dayton, 
Baldwin,  Chase,  John  Davis,  Ewing,  Hale,  Hamlin,  Seward,  Winthro[) 
and  others.  On  another  amendment  to  authorize  the  Corporations  of 
the  District  to  prohibit  ftre  negroes  within  t^heir  limits,  under  penalty  of 
imprisonment  and  fine  ;  which  aho  f:iil(>d  by  Ayes  20,  to  N'ays  23  ; 
Atcliison,  Butler,  Soule,  Jeff.  Davis  and  others  in  the  affirmative  ;  Fro- 
mont  and  Dnvtou,  Hale,  Chase  and  Seward  were  in  the  negative. 

Sept.  28,  when  Mason  of  Va.  moved  to  strike  out  the  clause  in  the 
Navy  bill  which  abolished  flosging  in  the  navy.  Col.  I'remont  was  found 
voting  No,  with  Halo.  Sowanl,  Chaso  and  other  Nortbarn  n^en. 


SS3 


I 


\M 


\^  % 


■III 


'i\\ 


I    I 


J    I 


420 


LIFK   AND   SKRVICE9   OF   JOHN   C.    FRKMONT. 


only  served  to  increase  the  respect  already  entertained 
for  liis  manly  sensibilities.  On  the  last  night  of  the 
session,  Senator  Foote,  of  Mississippi,  who  came  into 
the  Senate  somewhat  in  liquor,  in  the  course  of  some 
remarks  on  the  Naval  Appropriation  bill — it  afterwards 
appeared  as  if  he  had  not  known  preci3ely  what  bill  he 
was  speaking  to — said  in  substance,  or  was  understood 
to  say,  that  the  republic  would  be  dishonored  if  a 
portion  of  the  k'^n.slatifTu  which  had  been  urged  upon  the 
Senate  for  California  were  coDsuiuniated.  Upon  hearing 
these  wH:>rds,  Col.  Fremont  left  the  Senate-chamber,  and 
sent  a  messenger  to  say  to  Senator  Foote,  that  he 
wished  to  speak  w^ith  him.  As  soon  as  Foote  had 
finished  his  speech,  the  message  was  delivered  to 
liim,  and  he  stepped  out  to  Col.  Fremont,  who  then 
told  him  that  he  had  sent  for  him  to  say  that  he  had 
just  used  language  in  the  Senate  in  reference  to  him- 
self, which  a  gentleman  in  his  position  could  rot  use, 
and  which  was  unworthy  of  a  senator.  Foote  imme- 
diately struck  at  him  with  his  fist,  just  grazing  liis  face. 
On  the  instant,  both  parties  w^ere  seized  by  the  door- 
keepers and  senators  w^lio  had  noticed  Foote's  departure 
from  the  Senate  and  suspected  its  cause,  and  thus  a 
serious  issue  to  the  affair  was  postponed,  and,  as  it  hap- 
pened, prevented.  On  the  following  day.  Col.  Fre- 
mont sent  Foote  a  note  by  the  hand  of  Governor  Price, 
of  New  Jersey,  demanding  a  retraction  of  his  offensive 
imputations.  Governor  Price  brought  back  a  note 
from  Foote,  in  which  he  stated  that  in  what  he  had 
said  in  the  Senate,  he  had  said  nothing  denunciatory  of 
the  bill  supposed  to  have  been  referred  to  by  him,  or  of 
those  who  introduced  it. 

Mr.  Fremont's  friends  esteemed  this  equivalent  to  a 


DIFFICULTY    WITH    SENATOR   FOOTE. 


421 


jrtjiined 
of  the 
ne  into 
)f  some 
3rward8 
bill  he 
ierstood 
id  if  a 
poll  the 
hearing 
ler,  and 
hat  he 
)te  had 
red  to 
10  then 
he  had 
to  him- 
ot  nse, 
imme- 
is  tace. 

door- 
)artnre 
thus  a 
^t  hap- 

Fre- 
Price, 
ensive 

note 

had 
oiy  of 
or  of 

t  to  a 


retraction  of  the  offensive  words,  and  on  Monday  fol- 
lowing— the  note  to  Foote  and  his  reply  were  dehvered 
on  Saturday — the  following  card  appeared  in  the 
national  Intelligencer. 

A    CARD. 

■yVAsniNQTOK,  Sept.  23, 1850. 
The  undersigned  are  authorized  to  state  that  the  difficulty  between 
the  Hon.  H.  S.  Foote,  and  the  Hon.  J.  C.  Fremont — growing  out  of  cer- 
tain expressions  used  by  the  former  in  relation  to  the  California  land-bill, 
in  the  Senate,  last  evening,  has  been  adjusted  satisfactorily  and  honorably 

to  both  those  gentlemen. 

A.  C.  Dodge, 

Wm.  M.  Gwin, 

Henry  H.  Siblet, 

Rodman  M.  Price. 

It  was  the  custom  of  certain  senators  at  Washington 
then,  as  it  is  still,  we  believe,  to  keep  one  or  two  letter- 
writers  to  say  what  they  did  not  like  to  say  themselves 
— and  at  the  time  of  which  we  are  speaking,  Francis  J. 
Grund,  a  correspondent  of  the  Baltimore  Sun^  stood  in 
that  relation  with  Senator  Foote.  In  the  fultillment  of 
his  vocation,  he  took  it  upon  himself  to  state  in  a  letter 
written  the  very  day  the  affair  was  adjusted,  that  Foote 
had  made  no  retraction,  and  to  censure  Col.  Fremont 
for  attempting  to  prevent  a  free  discussion  of  California 
measures.  As  Foote's  letter  of  retraction  had  not  been 
published,  and  the  terms  of  the  adjustment  which  had 
been  pronounced  honorable  and  satistactory  to  both 
gentlemen  were  conlidential,  of  course  Grund's  version 
would  be  presumed,  by  the  uninformed  reader,  to  be 
correct,  in  the  absence  of  any  contradiction.  Col.  Fre- 
mont knew  that  this  version  of  the  settlement  oriij^inated 
with  Foote,  and  immediately  addressed  the  following 
letter  to  the  editor  of  the  Baltimore  Sun. 


1 ^IJ.M.I| 


• 


I:  / 


'''<  \i 


' 


422 


LIFE   AND   SKUV1CE8   OF   JOIJN   C.    FRKMONT. 


Sir  :  Your  papor  of  this  morning  (Monday,  Sept.  30th)  contains  a  para- 
graph in  a  letter  from  this  place,  which  it  is  obligatory  on  nie  to  notice 
and  in  such  clear  language  as  I  believe  the  circumstances  justify  me  in 
using.  It  appears  under  the  well-known  signature  X,  and  I  believe  it  to 
have  been  written  by  Mr.  Grund  ;  but  the  paragraph  which  concerns  me, 
I  consider  as  the  work  of  Mr.  Foote  himself,  and  shall  accordingly  treat 
him  as  the  author. 

The  following  is  the  paragraph  : 

*' '  The  difficulty  between  Senators  Foote  and  Fremont  lias  been  amica- 
bly arranged,  as  you  will  have  se(Mi  by  the  card  of  those  gentlemen's 
friends  in  to-day's  Union.  This  is  as  it  should  be.  Mr.  Fremont  was 
wrong  to  5«*tack  Mr.  Foote  for  words  spoken  in  debate,  which,  as  he 
(Foote)  distinctly  avowed  at  the  time  in  the  Senate,  were  not  spoken  with 
a  view  to  wound  the  personal  feelings  of  any  senator  present,  but  merely 
to  protect  the  country  against  ex  parte  decisions  of  the  California  Board 
of  Commissioners  for  the  adjustment  -.f  land  titles.  All  that  Gen.  Foote 
liad  observed  was,  that  without  Ewing's  amendment,  granting  an  appeal 
to  the  Supreme  Court  of  the  United  States  from  the  decision  of  tho 
Koard,  he  considered  that  the  bill  would  disgrace  the  Republic,  and  that 
however  inclined  he  was  to  support  the  bill  ivith  the  amendment,  he 
should  assuredly  vote  against  it  without  the  amendment.  Mr.  Foote 
retracted  nothing ;  but  distinctly  avowed  that  he  did  not  intend  any 
personal  disrespect  for  those  who  were  against  the  amendment.  Col. 
Fremont  could  not  be  satisfied  with  this  explanation.  As  a  sensible  man, 
and  a  man  of  honor,  he  must  have  seen  his  mistake  in  attempting  to  gag 
senators  in  regard  to  all  legislative  acts  relating  to  California,  and  in 
constituting  himself  the  heir  apparent  of  a  family  feud  which,  for  the 
benefit  of  the  whole  country,  had  better  be  buried  than  renewed.' 

"  This  paragraph  is  false  in  many  particulars,  as  I  will  endeavor  briefly 
to  show,  but  will  first  make  a  few  remarks  as  to  the  authorship.  When 
the  friend  whom  I  had  sent  to  Mr.  Foote  on  Saturday  morning  brought 
back  his  letter,  and  joined  with  other  friends  in  saying  it  was  sufficient, 
and  that  I  ought  to  be  satisfied  with  it,  and  with  the  statement  which  had 
been  agreed  to  be  pubhshed,  myself  and  others  replied  that  this  arrange- 
ment was  not  satisfactory,  because  the  affair  would  not  rest  there,  but 
that  Mr.  Foote  was  in  communication  with  a  letter  writer,  who  wrote  for 
him  in  the  Baltimore  Su7i  and  Philadelphia  Ledger,  and  that  these  two 
papers  would  soon  contain  untrue  accounts  of  the  affair  to  my  prejudice, 
and  which  would  compel  me  to  take  further  notice  of  it.  This  was 
repeatedly  and  emphatically  told  to  the  gentleman ;  but  it  was  finally 
concluded  to  receive  Mr.  Foote's  letter  as  satisfactory,  and  to  watch  for 
the  letters  in  the  Sun  and  Ledger.  Accordingly,  Monday  morning's  Sun 
brought  the  pxpeeted  letter,  which,  as  I  have  said  above,  I  fully  believe 


•■^■•••mmm 


r. 


DIFFICULTY    WITH    SENATOR   FOOTE. 


423 


ain.s  a  para» 
0  to  notice 
istify  me  ia 
)clieve  it  to 
sncerns  me, 
dingly  treat 


been  amica* 
[gentlemen's 
reniont  was 
liich,  as  he 
spoken  with 

but  merely 
)inia  Board 
Gen.  Foote 
;  an  appeal 
iion  of  tho 
c,  and  that 
ndment,  he 

Mr.  Foote 
intend  any 
nent.  Col. 
nsible  man, 
ting  to  gag 
nia,  and  in 

h,  for  the 
ed.' 

,vor  briefly 
p.     When 
ig  brought 
sufficient, 
which  had 
s  arrange- 
there,  but 
wrote  for 
these  two 
prejudice, 
This  was 
vas  finally 
watch  for 
ling's  Sun 
Uy  believe 


to  be  the  work  of  Mr.  Foote  througli  Mr.  Grund.  Tho  letter  opens  with 
Baying,  that  the  diffieultics  between  Mr.  Foote  and  Mr.  Fremont  have  been 
very  '  owuVrtWf/' arranged.  This  word  '■  nniicuhbi''  ia  false,  as  was  well 
known  to  the  writer.  I  merely  received  Mr.  Foote's  letter  as  satisfaction, 
and  no  tokens  of  amity  were  interchanged  between  us,  not  even  speaking 
to  each  other.  He  comes  then  to  the  cause  of  the  difficulty,  all  of  which 
is  falsely  stated,  and  is  so  proved  to  be  by  the  record.  The  letter  says, 
•Mr.  Fremont  was  wrong  to  attack  Mr.  Foote  for  words  spoken  in  debate, 
which  as  he  (Foote)  distinctly  avowed  at  th  ;  time,  were  not  spoken  with 
a  view  to  wound  the  feelings  of  any  senator  present,  but  merely  to  pro. 
tect  the  country  against  ex  parte  decisions  of  the  California  Uoard  of 
Commissioners.' 

"This  is  untrue.  The  bill  for  the  California  land  titles  was  not  under 
consideration  at  the  time,  and  had  been  previously  laid  upon  the  table, 
with  my  approbation,  till  the  next  session,  with  a  view  to  give  it  the  full 
consideration,  for  which  there  was  now  no  time.  Other  measures  had 
been  taken  up,  and  the  naval  appropriation  bill  was  then  under  discus- 
sion; and  it  was  on  this  bill — on  the  pretext  of  a  motion  from  Mr.  Gwin, 
having  no  relation  to  the  land  titles — that  the  words  were  spoken.  It 
was  not,  therefore,  to  'protect'  the  country  against  any  action  under 
that  bill  that  the  injurious  words  were  spoken,  for  the  bill  was  not  before 
the  Senate,  and  had  been  laid  over  until  the  next  session. 

"  The  letter  says  Mr.  Foote  retracted  nothing.  This  is  untrue,  as  will 
be  seen  by  the  copy  of  jir.  Foote's  remarks,  as  furnished  to  me  by  the 
reporter  for  the  Intelligencer,  contrasted  with  his  own  letter  to  me  ;  both 
of  which  are  herewith  given  in  their  order.  And  to  avow  no  retraction, 
is  to  re-affirm  the  orginal  insult,  by  an  insidious  implication.  I  make  no 
account  of  difference  between  retraction  and  denial  in  this  case. 

"  The  letter  says,  '  Mr.  Fremont  must  have  seen  his  error  in  attempting 
to  gag  senators  in  regard  to  all  legislative  measures  in  relation  to  Califor- 
nia.' This  is  absurdly  'alse — absurd  in  the  idea  that  I  should  attempt  to 
gag  senators,  and  false  in  the  fact.  Much  as  the  circumstances  of  the 
country  required  the  bill  to  be  passed  to  prevent  violence  and  bloodshed 
in  Cahfornia,  yet,  when  it  was  kept  off  until  the  afternoon  of  Friday,  I 
gave  it  up  for  the  session — said  so,  before  the  evening  recess,  to  Messrs- 
Ewing  and  Benton,  the  two  principal  speakers  on  it — agreed  to  have  it 
laid  upon  the  table — and,  satisfied  that  this  would  be  done,  did  not  return 
to  the  Senate  until  after  the  evening  session  had  commenced,  and  until 
after  the  bill  had  been  laid  upon  the  table ;  and  when  I  did  come  in,  I 
was  surprised  to  find  Mr.  Foote  referring  to  the  California  land  title  bill, 
the  naval  appropriation  bill  being  the  one  under  consideration.     It  ia, 


^1 


421 


LIFK   AND   SKUVICKS   OF   JOHN   C.    FUKMONT. 


tliorcforo,  fnlso,  an  well  an  ridioulous,  to  Hay  that  I  attemptod  to  pap  sona' 
tors;  I  laid  it  over  to  the  rii'xt  session  expressly  to  admit  the  i'ulicHt 
disoiission,  wliieli  is  exactly  tlie  reverse  of  paf,'f,'iiip.' 

"  Tiio  Halliiiiore  letter  says,  '  Mr.  Foole  did  not  intend  to  wound  tlio 
feelinps  of  any  senator— hut  distinelly  avowed  at  the  lime  \\\  tlie  Senate, 
that  he  did  not  intend  any  personal  disrespeet  for  tliose  who  were  apainst 
the  anuMidmcnt.'  This  is  false  apain,  and  is  jjroved  to  he  so  hy  all  the 
eircumstances  of  the  ease,  and  by  the  words  themselves,  This  is  tho 
report  of  them,  as  furnished  mc  l\y  one  of  the  Natlona!  JnteWujenccr 
reporters : 

"' We  had  some  little  admonition  this  niorninp  at  to  the  danger  of 
hasty  lepisialion  in  rej^ard  to  California  matters.  Nevertheless,  1  say 
deliberately,  I  say  it  with  due  eonsideiation  of  the  matter  and  of  tho 
consecpienees  of  the  deelaration,  that  if  the  views  whiih  have  l>een 
expressed  in  certain  quarters  this  nuniiinp  in  repard  to  a  portion  of  the 
lepislation  whieh  is  urped  upon  us  for  California,  should  be  adopted  in 
the  same  hasty  maniu'r  in  whieh  it  is  now  proposed  to  us  lo  pive  our 
saiu'tion  to  the  present  proposition,  tht>  admission  of  Calil'ornia  into  thu 
Union  would  be  j)ro(luetive  of  more  detriment  to  the  re|»ublie,  and,  in 
my  opinion,  be  fraupht  with  more  real  dishonor  to  the  nation,  than  any 
event  that  has  ever  oeeurred  in  the  historic  annals  of  the  country.  Sir, 
we  must  be  cautious  about  this  Caliiornia  business.  Not  oidy  is  Califor 
nia  a  State  of  this  Union,  but  she  is  a  preat  State.  Her  resources  are 
krpe.  Her  inteiests  are  vast.  They  are  of  vast  importance  to  herself 
and  to  the  country  at  larpe.  In  dealinp  with  them  we  must  act  cautious- 
ly, circumspectly,  vipilantly,  and  permit  no  man,  or  set  of  nuMi,  to  urpe 
us  hastily  and  indiscreetly  into  the  adoption  of  any  lepislation  for  which, 
hereafter,  we  may  have  reason  to  repent  in  sackcloth  and  in  ashes.' 

•'  Now,  take  this  lanpnago,  and  see  if  there  was  not  a  design  to  be 
personal  and  insultinp  in  it,  and  that  upon  a  plan  previously  resolved 
upon.  He  avows  deliberation — due  consideration — disregard  of  conse- 
quences. What  does  this  mean,  but  a  pre-determined  design  to  give 
both  insult  ami  defiance  ?  And  in  that  light  it  would  doubtless  have 
been  represented,  if  I  had  not  called  him  to  account.  Then  the  terrible 
consequences  of  passing  the  bill,  the  dishonor  to  the  nation,  the  corrup- 
tion, the  repentance  in  sackcloth  and  ashes  :  what  did  all  this  refer  to, 
but  the  bill  which  I  had  brought  in  ?  And  why  refer  to  it  at  all,  when  it 
was  not  before  the  Sen.ite,  not  under  consideration — actually  laid  upon 
the  table,  to  lie  there  until  the  next  session?  Why  not  wait  till  the  next 
session,  if  he  only  wanted  to  speak  against  the  bill  ?  Why  refer  to  it  at 
all,  under  such  circumstances,  unless  for  a  purpose  unconnected  with  the 
bill  ?  and  in  such  language,  except  for  insult  ?  It  is  useless  to  pretend 
the  contrary  ;  and,  therefore,  the  Baltimore  letter  is  false  in  saying  that 


I  ill 

I" 


IT. 


DIFFICULTY    WITH    SENATOR    FOOTE. 


4i'r> 


to  Rftp;  spna- 

t    tlu>    I'llllcHt 

>  wuiiiul  tlio 
I  tlie  StMiiitc, 
wore  a;^iiiiist 
'o  by  all  tin; 
Tliis  is  tho 
JntcUiycncer 


u'  (lanpor  of 
lu'lcss,  1  say 
r  and  of  thu 
1  have  bct'ii 
Drtioii  of  tlio 
.<  adopted  in 

to  fjivo  our 
•Ilia  into  the 
ildic,  and,  iii 
i)n,  than  any 
[)nntry.  Sir, 
ly  i«  Ciiiifor 
esourcc'S  are 
■e  to  herself 
u't  eautious- 

(>n,  to  ur;;e 
n  for  wliifh, 
iislies.' 

sign  to  be 

ly  resolved 

d  of  oonse- 

gn   to  give 

:)tless  have 

the  terrible 

the  oorriip- 

is  refer  to, 

dl,  when  it 

y  laid  upon 

ill  the  next 

for  to  it  at 

nl  with  the 

to  pretend 

saying  that 


Mr.  Foote  liad  no  design  to  wound  feelingH — no  intent  to  be  diMrespeetful. 
The  oontrary  was  understood  by  every  nenator  at  the  time,  and  \a  proved 
by  the  words  tlieniselves,  and  the  ciivuinstanees  under  whieh  they  wcro 
spoken,  and  there  is  no  disavowal,  distinet  or  indistinct,  of  |)ersonul  disre- 
sport  to  anybody. 

"  Tie;  lialtiniore  letter  adinonishoH  me  not  to  make  myself  '  heir '  to  a 
family  feud.  The  admonition  woidd  be  unnecessary,  even  if  it  eame  from 
a  source  entitled  to  respect ;  but,  found  where  it  is,  it  is  both  false  and 
impertinent.  I  make  myself  '  loir  '  to  no  one's  feuds.  I  begin  none  of 
my  own.  I  prefer  to  live  in  peace  with  the  world.  Ibit  everybody  will 
see  from  the  remarks  of  Mr.  Foote  in  the  Senate,  in  relation  to  iIk;  bill  I 
brought  in,  and  his  letter  to  the  Baltimore  Sun,  that  it  is  intended  to 
make  me  '  hiir '  to  his  feelings  towards  (.'ol.  Henton. 

"  I  conclude  this  notice  with  giving  .Mr.  Foote's  letter  to  me,  in  answer 
to  the  note  which  I  sent  him  by  u  friend : 

"  '  Senatb  CnAMiiKR,  AV//<.  23, 18.V). 

*"Siu:  I  do  not  feel  tliat  I  should  l)e  doing  justice  to  myself,  did  I  not, 
in  writing,  (as  I  thought  I  did  very  explicitly  last  niglit,  nrd/fj/),  deny  that 
I  said  anytiiing  denunciatory  of  tlie  bill  to  which  you  refer,  or  of  those 
who  introduced  it.  I  was  in  favor  of  Mr.  Ewing's  amendment,  and  in 
favor  of  the  bill  itself,  provided  his  amendment  could  be  incorporuted 
■with  it.  This  your  colleague  well  knows.  1  said  that  certain  views  had 
been  expressed  in  the  course  of  dei)ate  upon  that  bill,  and  in  support  of 
it,  that  if  sanctioned  by  Congress  would  disgrace  the  republic.  What  I 
meant  was,  that  the  estal)lishiuent  of  a  Hoard  of  t'ommissioiuMs  in  Cali- 
fornia for  the  adjustment  of  land  titles,  viithout  the  />riri/e(/e  of  appeal  to 
the  Supreme  Court  of  the  United  States,  would,  in  my  opinion,  rc>ult  in 
scenes  of  corruption,  and  acts  of  injustice,  which  would  be  seriously 
derogatory  to  the  national  character.  So  I  think  yet,  and  so  1  .shall 
always  think  and  .say. 

"  *  If,  after  this  statement,  you  persevere  in  the  demand  contained  ia 
your  note,  I  shall  certainly  gratify  you,  though  1  shall,  from  eertaiu 
prudential  considerations,  defer  a  Ibrmul  acceptance  of  your  proposiliou 
until  I  can  leave  the  District  of  Columbia. 

"  '  Your  obedient  servant, 

"  '  II.  S.  Foote. 

'"Hon.    J.    C.   FUKMONT.' 

*'  This  was  the  letter  received.  It  contradicts  the  .speech,  denies  tlio 
denunciation  and  insult  which  the  speech  contains,  and  is  itself  contra- 
dicted both  by  the  actual  words  spoken  in  the  Senate,  and  by  the  letter 
to  the  Baltimore  Sun  ;  and,  although  both  of  these  are  themselves  untrue, 
yet  it  is  not  for  Mr.  Foote  to  say  so,  or  to  impeach  their  competency  to 
invalidate  the  other.     All  three  of  these  documents  are  given,  and  those 


I'Vin 


I! 


420 


LIFl-:    AND    SKliVlCKS   OF   JOHN    ('.    FUKMoNT. 


who  plpftflo  niny  comjmro  them,  and  sec  how  oiitin'ly  thov  I'oiivict  onch 
other.  Tho  letter  to  me,  iiml  the  Htiitemeiit  piililislietl  l»y  iVieiulM,  would 
liave  lieen  u  quietus  to  the  iifViiir  with  me,  it'  it  hud  not  lieeii  for  the 
Biiltimoro  letter.  The  U'tter  to  mo,  to  be  Hiire  was  iintrue  ;  but  that  wuh 
not  my  alluir,  provided  iiothiii;^  more  was  written.  But  I  expected 
more — expected  letterH  injurious  to  me  in  tht;  Jialtbnorc  Siiv  and  the 
J'/ii/(i(li/jihia  Lcdifcr,  and  .so  .said  at  th«^  time,  atid  ,so  tlu'  event  han 
verified — and  tliat  has  forced  me  to  make  thi.s  brief  exitosition  of  the 
threefold  falsehoods  of  the  premeditated  attack  upon  me  in  tlie  Semite, 
its  denial  in  a  letter  to  me,  and  its  insidious  implied  reiK'tition  in  tho 
lialthintrt'  Sun,  by  assertinf*  that  he  retracted  nothing. 

*'To  put  the  whole  case  into  three  words,  it  is  this;  Mr.  Foote  went 
otit  of  his  way  when  the  subject  was  not  before  the  Senate,  to  deliver  u 
deliberately  considered  insult  and  defiance  to  me — then  denied  the  iu- 
sult  and  defiance,  and  disclaimed  all  disrespect,  in  a  letter  to  me — then 
re-aflhnic<l,  by  inevitable  implication,  the  same  insult  and  defiance  iu  a 
letter  to  the  lialthnorc  Suh,  denying  all  retraction. 

*'  With  this  summing  up  of  the  ca.se  and  the  precedent  proofs,  I  leave 
the  afl'air  to  the  judgment  of  the  public. 

(Signed)  J,  C,  Fremont. 

"  September  30,  1850." 

Senator  Foote  has  never  piihlicly,  nor  so  far  as  we 
know,  privately,  denied  liis  complicity  witli  the  author  of 
the  letter  to  the  /Stui,  nor  did  he  ever  in  any  way  attempt 
to  alter  the  position  of  the  case  as  it  was  left  by  Col. 
Fremont's  letter  to  the  Baltitnore  journal.  In  a  fit  of 
intoxication  he  had  done  a  wrong  for  which  when  he 
became  sober  he  was  ashamed  publicly  to  apologize. 
Then  to  get  credit  for  a  triumph  which  he  was  not 
entitled  to,  he  gets  another  person  to  write  what  he 
knew  was  not  true.  When  convicted  of  both  offences, 
he  doubtless  came  to  the  conclusion  that  the  most 
prudent  course  he  could  pursue  towards  Col.  Fremont 
for  the  future,  was  to  let  him  alone.* 

*  The  Albany  Atlas,  of  that  date,  commenting  upon  this  affair  says : — 
*'  Senator  Foote,  of  Mississippi,  spent  tho  closing  hours  of  the  late  ses- 


IT. 


DIFFICULTY    WITH    8KNAT0U   FOOT. 


427 


cotiviot  Oftcli 
rit'iidfl,  would 

hceii  for  tlio 

Itiit  llmt  waH 
L    1    oxpi'i'tod 

Sit7i  and  tlii! 
ic  event  liii.H 
)sitioii  of  the 
1  the  Semite, 
■titiuii  ill  tliu 

'.  Foote  went 
,  to  deliver  a 
enied  tiie  iu- 
to  me — then 
Jeliuncc  iu  a 

oofs,  I  leave 

C.  Fkemont. 


far  as  wo 
an  til  or  of 
y  attempt 
by  Col. 
n  a  fit  of 
when  he 
pologize. 
was  not 
what  he 
offences, 
he  most 
Fremont 


eion   of  ('oii|,'res8   in   pentung    a   rt'tniction  to    Senator    Fremont  for 
gratuitous  iimult  rendered  in  debate. 

"ItHeenifl  that  he  ehosc  to  attribute  Incorrupt  private  n)()tlvpH,  the 
Polieitude  of  Mr.  Fremont  to  seeure  tlie  passii<re  of  the  California  Mining 
Heffuliition  bills.  Called  to  aceount  for  sueli  liin<,'uiif;e,  and  stigmatized 
for  itH  use,  he  resorted  to  a  blow.  Challenged,  he  had  reeour.-ie  to 
a  letter  of  explanation  and  retraction. 

''This  seems  to  bo  the  tactics  of  the  man — to  give  insult  in  puhlie,  and 
to  make  apologie-s  for  it  in  i)rivate.  lie  threatened  Mr.  Hale,  on  lu.s 
ftcce.ssion  to  the  Semite,  that  if  he  should  be  caught  in  his  State,  ho 
would  bo  strung  up  to  the  first  tree  without  law,  and  that  he  would  a.ssist 
in  the  execution;  but  he  apologized  to  the  New  Hampshire  senator  in 
private.  He  insulted  Mr.  Seward,  if  not  as  grossly,  at  least  with  as  much 
malignancy;  but  he  deprecated  the  ill  opinion  of  the  New  York  senator, 
and  i)rivately  cultivated  a  better  acipiaintance,  an  his  guest,  at  frequent 
tea  parlies.  He  insulted  Horland,  of  Arkansas,  was  knocked  down  in  the 
street  by  him  for  it,  ami  aj)ologized — privately.  He  '  flared  up  '  at  Clay 
and  Calhoun  in  the  Senate,  to  fawn  upon  them  servilely  afterwards.  Mr. 
Benton  was  the  oidy  man  upon  whom  ho  could  not  j)lay  this  douitle  game. 
He  had  eulogized  him,  in  this  city,  as  the  superior  of  Cicero  and  of 
Burke,  and  as  the  greatest  of  statesmen.  Ho  maligned  him  after- 
wards, in  the  Senate  like  a  common  drab.  Afraid  to  eonie  near  the  great 
Missourian  to  apologize  for  insult,  he  kept  himself  privately  armed,  and 
once  drew  a  pistol  on  his  adversary  in  the  Senate,  but  retreated  before 
the  mere  frown  of  an  unarmed  man.  Ue  ends  whore  he  began — in  insult 
and  retraction. 

"  He  doubtless  expects  that  the  fame  of  his  public  ruffianism  will  reach 
his  State,  and  that  the  story  of  his  pliancy  will  remain  secret.  This 
accounts  for  these  alternations  of  bullying,  hazarded  in  public,  with  mean 
compliances  in  private. 

*'  Possibly  the  retracting  senator  of  the  repudiating  State,  in  this  course 
but  represents  his  constituency ;  but  we  wi.sh,  for  the  sake  of  the  national 
decency,  that  Mississippi  would  carry  her  peculiar  system  of  ethics  a 
little  further  and  retract  or  repudiate  him." 


air  says : — 
he  late  seg- 


J* 


f } 


ill 


i   n' 


i! 


!i  h 


428 


LIFE   AND   SERVICES   OF  JOHN   C.    FREMONT. 


CHAPTEE  XVII. 

RETURN  TO  CALIFORNIA ILLNESS — CANPIDATE  FOR  RE-ELEC- 
TION TO  THE    UNITED    STATES    SENATE — GOES  TO  EUROPE 

PROJECTS    HIS     FIFTH    AND    LAST    EXPLORING    TOUR HIS 

HARDSHIPS    AND    TRIUMPH LETTER     FROM     PARAWAN 

PRAIRIES    ON     FIRE A    CARELESS     SENTINEL HUERFANO 

BUTTE A  CHEERLESS    NIGHT FALL  OF  MULES    DOWN    THE 

MOUNTAINS THREATENED   BY  INDIANS HOW  THEY  WERE 

REPELLED — REDUCED  TO  EAT    HORSE    MExVT THEY   SWEAR 

NOT  TO  EAT  EACH  OTHER FREKZING,  DKATH,  AND    BURIAL 

OF   FULLER DECLINES    A   PUBLIC   DINNER   IN    SAN    FRAN- 
CISCO  RETURNS  TO  WASHINGTON 

Col.  Fremont  left  again  for  California  hj  the  steamer 
which  sailed  lirst  after  the  adjournment  of  Congress. 
Upon  leaving  Panama  he  had  another  return  of  the 
Chagres  fever,  whicii  was  so  obstinate  and  enfeebling 
that  he  was  prevented  from  returning  to  AYasLhigton 
the  following  winter.  Meantime  the  Pro-Slavei_.  party, 
strengthened  by  all  the  influence  of  the  Federal  Admin- 
istration, had  acquired  such  a  controlling  influence  in 
California,  that  at  the  fall  elections  of  ISol,  the  party 
wliicli  had  advocated  the  proviso  against  Slavery  in  the 
State  constitution,  and  with  which  Fremont  was  identi- 
fied, was  no  longer  in  the  majority,  ard  a  combination 
was  successfully  made  to  prevent  his  re-election.     The 


NT. 


FIFTH   EXPEDITION. 


429 


R  RE-ELEC- 

EUKOPE 

TOUR HIS 

LRAWAN 

IIUKUFANO 
DOWN  THE 
HEY  WERE 
EY  SWEAR 
D  BURIAL 
A.N    FRAN- 

3  steamer 
^ongi'ess. 
n  of  the 
nft^ebliiio; 

isL  Ino-ton 

1  Admin- 
uence  in 
lie  party 
ry  ill  tlie 
.8  idonti- 
binatioii 
m.     The 


legislature  went  into  an  election  of  his  successor  in  Febru- 
ary, and  after  one  hundred  and  forty-two  ballotings,  the 
convention  adjourned  until  tlie  1st  of  January  follow- 
ing, without  making  a  choice.  The  candidates  were 
Fremont,  T.  Butler  King,  lleydenfelt,  Geary,  Weller 
and  Collier. 

The  next  tw^o  years  Col.  Fremont  devoted  mainly  to 
His  private  affairs.  He  took  the  preliminary  steps 
necessary  to  perfect  his  title  to  the  Mariposas  tract, 
which  he  also  surveyed  and  mapped  ;  resumed  his  old 
business  of  cattle-drover,  and  in  these  pursuits  gradually 
repaired  a  portion  of  the  losses  which  his  private 
interests  had  sustained  while  attending  to  public  duties. 

The  negotiations  to  which  his  proprietorship  of  the 
Mariposas  property  gave  rise  took  him  to  Europe  in  the 
spring  of  1852,  where  he  spent  a  year  with  his  iamily, 
mostly  in  Paris,  and  where  he  had  the  satisfaction  of 
observing  that  his  fame  had  preceded  him,  and  pre])ared 
for  him  an  extremely  flattering  reception  from  several 
of  the  most  eminent  men  of  science  and  letters  then 
living. 

At  the  close  of  the  session  of  Congress  in  March,  1852, 
through  the  good  management  of  Senator  Chase,  an  aj)- 
propriation  was  made  for  the  survey  of  three  routes  to 
the  Pacific  ocean  with  the  view  of  getting  some  further 
information  as  a  basis  of  legislation  for  a  national  high- 
way between  the  Mississippi  valley  and  the  Pacilic 
Ocean.  When  Col.  Fremont  heard  of  this,  he  deter- 
mined to  return,  iit  out  an  expedition  on  his  own  account, 
and  complete  the  survey  of  the  route  which  he  had  taken 
on  his  last  expedition,  from  the  point  where  he  was  led 
astray  by  his  guide,  and  which  he  believed  he  could 
prove  to  be  quite  the  best,  if  not  the  only  practicable 


430 


LIFE   AND   SEKVICES   OF  JOHN   C.    FREMONT. 


route  for  a  national  road.  For  this  purpose  he  left  Paris 
for  the  United  States,  in  June,  and  in  August,  1853, 
set  out  uj^on  his  fifth  and  last  trans-continental  expe- 
dition. 

Among  the  colonel's  companions  on  this  trip  was 
S.  N.  Carvalho,  Es(i.,  of  Baltimore,  who  went  as  the 
artist  of  the  expedition. 

We  have  been  permitted  to  inspect  his  journal  and 
correspondence,  in  which  he  has  preserved  graphic 
memoranda  of  the  most  striking  incidents  of  this  most 
perilous  and  eventful  journey.  The  following  extracts 
are  quoted  from  these  records : 

KXTRACTS  FROM  THE  JOURNAL  AND  LETTERS  OF  S,  N.  CARVALHO. 

"  Wesfport,  Kansas,  Sept.  loth,  1853.— To-day  Col.  Fremont,  Mr. 
Egbstein,  Mr,  Fuller  and  myself  arrived  at  Westport  from  St.  Louis. 
We  found  the  rest  of  the  expedition  here  with  the  baggage  and  pro- 
visions— Col.  PVemont  immediately  selected  a  camp  ground  in  a  wood 
near  town,  and  had  all  the  material  conveyed  there. 

"20^A. — All  hands  slept  in  camp  last  night,  and  a  storin  of  rain 
drenched  us,  giving  the  uninitiated  an  inkling  of  what  they  had  to 
expect.  During  the  day,  different  lots  of  mules  and  horses  have  been 
brought  in,  from  which  Col.  Fremont  selected  those  he  re(iuired.  Holders 
of  animals  took  advantage  of  our  necessities  and  charged  two  prices,  to 
which  extortion  we  were  obliged  to  siibmit. 

"The  men  have  all  been  armed  with  rifles,  Colt's  six-shooters,  sheath- 
knives,  A-c.  ;  and  tlie  baggage  arranged  ready  for  packing  to-morrow, 
when  we  are  to  have  a  trial  start.  Col.  Fremont  to-day  engaged  ten 
Delaware  Braves,  to  accompany  the  expedition,  under  charge  of  Captain 
Wolf,  '  a  big  Indian.^ 

"  They  are  to  meet  us  on  the  Kansas  River  near  a  Potawatomie  vil- 
lage. 

"  21st. — Branding  the  animals  with  Col.  Fremont's  mark  having  been 
completed,  we  packed  cir  animals,  mounted  our  men,  and  started  in  high 
spirits.  AVe  proceeded  about  four  miles  to  the  Methodist  Mission,  and 
camped.  Finding  several  things  more  required  we  sent  back  to  AVest- 
port  for  tluMu.     My  daguerreotype  apparatus  was  unpacked,  and  vieWt;  of 


ii' 


eft  Paris 
ist,  1853, 
:{il  expe- 

trip  was 
t   as  the 

riial  and 
grapliic 
lis  most 
extracts 


iLHO. 

inont,    Mr. 
8t.  Louis, 
and   pro- 
ill  a  wood 

11  of  rain 
L'y  liiid  to 
lave  boon 
Holdera 
prices,  to 

s,  sht'Hth- 

•iiiorrow, 

:iigod  tea 

t'  Captain 

toniie  vil- 

in;^  boeu 
ill  liigh 
^ioii,  and 
to  W(vst- 
vi(nvb  ol" 


FIFTH   EXPEDITION. 


431 


the  Mission  were  made ;  all  the  arrangements  I  had  made  for  taking  pic- 
tures in  the  open  air  were  perfectly  successful. 

*'  22rf. — We  made  an  early  start  this  morning,  our  camp  equipage  being 
in  complete  order.  Col.  Fremont  intends  to  accomplish  tlie  journey  as 
ppeedily  as  possible  across  the  continent  on  a  proposed  line  of  38.  Ho 
supplied  the  expedition  with  the  necessary  provisions  as  well  as  luxuries, 
wliicli  'ho  nature  of  the  journey  demanded,  besides  this  seventy-two 
barroli  of  '  Aidcn's  pn  rved  milk,  cream,  cocoa,  Java  coffee,'  and  &c., 
were  supplied  by  the  manufaeturer  for  testing  tlie  nutritive  qualities  and 
value  during  our  voyage,  from  N.  Y.  I  brought  them  into  camp  under 
my  charge.  Tlicse  preparations  alone  were  sullicient  to  sustain  the  lives 
of  seventy  men  for  a  month.  An  extra  mule  was  purchased  on  purpose 
to  convey  them. 

"  We  camped  at  Rhawnoe  Mission,  some  twelve  or  fifteen  miles  from 
our  last  camp.  Colonel  Fremont  complains  to-night  of  being  indis- 
posed. 

"  23rf. — The  illness  of  Fremont  increasing,  he  has  found  it  necessary  to 
return  to  Westport  for  advice.  He  left  orders  for  the  party  to  proceed 
and  join  the  Delawares  who  were  awaiting  us,  at  the  distance  of  three 
days' journey — when  he  expected  to  rejoin  us. 

"  To-day  we  met  our  brave  Delawares,  all  armed  and  mounted ;  more 
noble  specimens  of  men  in  their  natural  state,  do  not  exist  anywhere. 
Our  party  proceeded  and  camped  near  the  Potawatomies,  where  we 
remained  several  days. 

*'  Oct.  1st. — A  messenger  arrived  with  a  letter  from  Colonel  Fremont, 
informing  us  that  his  increasing  illness  forced  hiin  to  return  to  St.  Louis 
for  advice.  He  counselled  us  to  proceed  as  far  as  Smoky  Hills  and 
encamp,  where  there  was  plenty  of  buffalo,  and  to  send  back  '  Solomon,' 
the  Indian  chief,  who  had  accompanied  him  in  a  former  voyage  to  West- 
port,  to  conduct  him  to  camp.  He  thought  he  would  be  with  us  in  a 
fortnight.  This  letter  was  addressed  to  Mr.  W.  H.  Palmer,  rcfpiesting 
him  to  take  the  direction  of  superintending  the  expedition  during  '■their 
encampment.''  We  accordingly  proceeded  on  the  journey,  under  the 
guidance  of  Capt.  Wolf  and  his  Delawares,  on  the  0th  October.  Wo 
saw  and  killed  our  first  buffaloes  on  the  7th.  We  encamped  on  the 
Saline  fork  of  the  Kansas  River,  better  known  as  '  Salt  Creek,'  where 
there  was  abundance  of  grass  for  our  animals. 

"  h)th. —  *  *  *  *  Our  Delawares  brouglit  into  camp  this  evon- 
an  abundant  supply  of  buffalo  and  antelope.  The  gentleman  in  charge 
of  the  commissariat  finds  great  dilBculty  in  preventing  the  muleteers  and 
those  who.-e  duty  it  is  to  perform  the  niaiiual  labor  of  the  camp,  from 
•onsuming  unueo 'cSiry  ([aantitio,-.  of  it. 


tl!!! 


!f 


r*  I 


432 


LIFE   AND   SERVICES   OF   JOHN   C.    FREMONT. 


"  The  result  is,  that  the  stores  which  wore  intended  to  sustain  us  on 
our  journey  are  being  wantonly  and  shamefully  destroyed. 

Oct.  30th.  During  the  day,  the  sun  was  completely  obscured  by  low,  dark 
clouds.  The  atmosphere  was  filled  with  a  most  disagreeable  and  suflbcating 
emoke,  which  rolled  over  our  heads.  We  were  still  encamped  on  tho 
Saline  fork  of  the  Kansas  River,  impatiently  awaiting  the  arrival  of  Col. 
Fremont,  who  had  not  yet  returned  from  St.  Louis.  Mis  continued 
absence  alarmed  us  for  his  safety,  and  the  circumstance  that  the  prairies 
had  been  on  fire  for  several  days  past  in  the  direction  throu^^h  which  he 
must  pass  to  reach  us,  added  to  our  anxiety.  Night  came  on,  and  the 
dark  clouds,  which  overhung  us  like  an  immense  pall,  now  assumed  a 
horrible  lurid  glare  all  along  the  horizon.  As  far  as  the  eye  could  reach, 
a  belt  of  fire  was  visible.  We  were  on  the  prairie,  between  Kansas 
River  on  one  side,  Solomon's  Fork  on  another,  and  Salt  Creek  on  the 
third,  and  a  large  belt  of  woods  about  four  miles  from  camp  on  the  fourth. 
We  were  thus  completely  hemmed  and  incomparatively  secure  from 
danger.  Our  animals  were  grazing  near  this  belt  of  woods  the  day 
before,  and  when  they  had  been  driven  into  camp  at  night,  one  of  the 
mules  was  missing.  At  daylight  a  number  of  Indians,  the  Topographi- 
cal Engineer  (Mr.  Eglostein),  and  myself,  sallied  out  in  search  of  it. 
After  looking  through  the  woods  for  an  hour,  we  discovered  our  mule 
lying  dead,  with  his  lariat  drawn  close  around  his  neck.  It  had  become 
loose,  and  trailing  along  the  ground  had  become  entangled  with  the 
branches  of  an  old  tree,  and  in  his  endeavors  to  extricate  himself  he  was 
strangled.  We  were  attracted  to  the  spot  by  the  howling  of  wolves,  and 
we  found  that  he  had  been  partially  devoured  by  them.  Our  engineer, 
who  wanted  a  wolf-skin  for  a  saddle-cloth,  determined  to  remain  to  kill 
one  of  them. 

I  assisted  him  to  ascend  a  high  tree  immediately  over  the  body 
of  the  mule,  untied  the  lariat,  and  attaching  his  rifle  to  one  end  of 
it,  he  pulled  it  up  to  him.  The  rest  of  the  party  returned  to  camp. 
About  four  o'clock  in  the  afternoon,  he  being  still  out,  I  roasted  some 
buffalo  meat  and  went  to  seek  him.  I  found  him  still  in  the  tree,  quietly 
awaiting  an  opportunity  to  kill  his  wolf.  lie  declined  to  come  down.  I 
told  him  to  what  darger  he  was  exposing  himself,  and  entreated  him  to 
return  to  camp.  Finding  him  determined  to  remain,  I  sent  him  up  his 
supper  and  returned  to  camp,  expecting  him  to  be  in  at  sundown.  The 
prairies  were  now  on  fire  just  beyond  the  belt  of  woods,  and  through 
which  Col  Fremont  had  to  pass.  Becoming  alarmed  for  Mr.  Eglostoin, 
several  of  us  went  to  bring  him  in.  We  found  him  half  way  to  camp, 
dragging  by  the  lariat  the  dead  body  of  an  immense  wolf,  which  he 


NT. 


sustain  us  ou 


(1  by  low,  dark 
ind  sullbcating 
iiiuped  on  tho 
vrrival  of  Col. 
His  continued 
it  tlie  prairies 
m]^\i  which  he 
le  on,  and  the 
ow  assumed  a 
c  could  reach, 
twcen  Kansas 
Creek  on  the 
on  the  fourth. 

secure  from 
oods  the  day- 
It,  one  of  the 
e  Topographi* 

search  of  it. 
red  our  mule 
t  had  become 
gled  with  the 
limself  he  was 
)f  wolves,  and 

)ur  engineer, 
remain  to  kill 

er   the   body 

one  end  of 

led  to  camp. 

roasted  some 

!  tree,  quietly 

mie  down.     I 

eated  him  to 

t  him  up  his 

iidown.     The 

and  through 

Ir.  Eglostoin, 

vay  to  camp, 

If,  which  he 


rUAmiES   ON   FIRE. 


433 


had  shot.  We  assisted  him  on  with  his  booty  as  well  as  well  as  wc  could. 
My  "guard"  came  on  at  two  o'clock.  I  lay  down  to  take  a  three  lioura' 
rest;  when  I  went  on  duty,  tho  scene  that  presented  itself  was  sublinio.  A 
breeze  had  sprung  up  which  dissipated  the  smoke  to  windward.  The  full 
moon  was  shining  brightly,  and  tlie  piles  of  clouds  which  surrounded  iior 
presented  magnificent  studies  of  light  and  shadow  which  Claude  Lorraine 
so  loved  to  paint.  The  fire  had  reached  the  belt  of  woods,  and  had  already 
burned  part  of  the  tree  our  friend  had  been  seated  on  all  day.  The  fire  on 
the  north  side  had  burned  up  to  the  water's  edge,  and  had  there  stopped. 
The  whole  horizon  now  seemed  bounded  by  fire ;  our  Delawares  by  tliis  time 
had  picket-^d  all  the  animals  near  the  creek  we  were  camped  on,  and  all  tho 
baggage  of  the  ciimp  safely  carried  down  the  banks  near  tlie  water.  When 
day  dawned,  the  magnificont  woods  which  had  slieltered  our  animals  now 
appeared  a  forest  of  black  scathed  trunks.  Wlien  the  fire  gradually 
increased  around  us,  we  dared  not  change  our  ground :  first,  because  we  saw 
no  point  where  there  was  not  more  danger  than  where  we  Avere :  second,  if 
we  moved  away,  the  Indian  chief,  Solomon,  who,  after  conducting  us  to 
the  camp-ground  we  now  occupied,  had  returned  to  guide  Col.  Fremont, 
would  not  know  exactly  where  to  find  us  again.  Just  after  break- 
fast, one  of  the  Delawares  gave  a  loud  whoop,  and  pointed  to 
the  burning  prairie  before  us,  where,  to  our  great  joy,  we  saw 
Col.  Fremont,  followed  by  an  immense  man,  who  proved  to  be  the 
doctor,  on  an  immense  mule,  and  the  Indian  chief  and  his  servant, 
galloping  through  the  blazing  element  in  the  direction  of  our  camp. 
Instantly,  with  one  accord,  all  the  men  discharged  their  rifles  in  a  volley ; 
our  tents  were  struck,  and  we  wanted  to  make  a  signal  for  their  guidance. 
We  all  reloaded,  and  when  they  were  very  near,  we  fired  a  salute.  Our 
men  and  Indians  immediately  surrounded  Col.  Fremont,  with  kind 
inquiries  after  his  health.  Xo  father  who  had  been  absent  from  his 
children  could  have  been  received  with  more  enthusiasm  and  real  joy. 
To  reach  us,  he  had  to  travel  over  nearly  fifty  miles  of  country  which 
had  been  on  fire ;  the  Indian  trail  which  led  to  our  camp  from  Solomon's 
fork  being  obliterated,  it  was  most  difficult  and  arduous  to  fqllow  it;  but 
the  keen  sense  of  the  Indian  directed  him  under  all  difficulties,  directly 
to  the  spot  where  he  had  left  us. 

"  During  the  balance  of  the  day  we  put  the  camp  in  travelling  order. 
With  the  arrival  of  the  colonel  our  provisions  had  received  considcrahlr- 
additions,  more  in  fact,  than  he  had  any  good  reason  to  suppose  we  had 
consumed  during  bis  absence.  During  the  night  the  fire  crossed  the 
Kansas  River,  and  was  directly  approaching  our  camp.  At  day-light  our 
animals  were  all  packed — the  camp  raised,  and  all  the  men  in  their  sad- 


III'! 


ii  :  lii 


M 


:i!i 


ili 


^^ 


;■! 


«i!!l 


:i 


!    II! 


I  i 


1 1 


i'li!:': 


IJM 


434 


LIFE   AND   SERVICES   OF  JOHN   C.    FREMONT. 


dlcp.  Our  only  cpcape  was  tlirough  the  blazing  grass, — we  dashed  into 
it,  Col.  P'reniont  at  the  head,  his  oHicers  following,  while  the  rest  of  the 
party  wore  driving  up  the  baggage  animals.  The  distance  we  rode 
through  the  blazing  tire  could  not  have  been  more  than  one  hundred 
feet — the  grass  which  quickly  ignites,  as  quickly  consumes,  leaving  only 
))lack  nshcs  in  the  rear.  We  passsed  through  the  fiery  ordeal  unscathed  ; 
made  thi't  day  over  the  burnt  prairie  about  fifteen  miles,  and  camped 
for  tiie  night  on  the  dry  bed  of  a  creek,  beyond  the  reach  of  the  devoui- 
ing  clement.        ***»**» 

"  Walnut  Creek  Camp. — The  weather  is  very  cold  and  disagreeable- 
One  of  the  oflieers  on  guard  left  the  animals  and  came  into  camp  to  warm 
himself, — Col.  Fremont  saw  him  at  the  lire  and  asked  if  he  had  been 
relieved  ;  he  said,  '  no.'  Col.  F.  told  him  that  he  expected  him  to  travel 
on  foot  during  the  next  day's  journey. 

"  From  being  unacjustomed  to  a  life  among  the  Indians,  I  thought 
the  punishment  very  severe  ;  but  the  sequel  vindicated  the  justice  of  it. 
When  the  animals  were  driven  to  camp  in  the  morning,  five  horses  and 
mules  were  missing ;  half  +he  day  was  spent  in  an  unsuccessful  search  for 
them.  Our  Delawares  reported  Cheyenne  moccasin  tracks  in  the  vicinity, 
which  led  Col.  Fremont  to  follow  them,  they  being  also  on  the  line  of  our 
travel ;  he  soon  discovered  the  marks  of  horse  shoes,  which  proved  that  wo 
were  on  the  track  of  the  robbers.  (The  Indian  horses  are  never  shod.)  We 
crossed  the  divide,  to  the  Arkansas,  and  followed  up  that  river  a  consi- 
derable distance  to  "  Big  Tombee  "  where  there  was  a  Cheyenne  Indian 
villa "^e.  Here  wc  found  the  animals  as  well  as  the  thieves.  On  examin- 
ation they  confessed  that  they  had  watched  our  camp  until  the  man  left 
his  guard  to  warm  himself  by  the  camp  fire,  during  which  time  they  took 
the  opportunity  to  run  oft'  five  animals,  and  if  they  had  been  unguarded 
a  half  hour  longer,  they  would  have  stolen  the  whole  of  them. 

"  Thus  the  lives  of  the  whole  party  were  jeopardized  by  the  inconsi- 
derate conduct  of  this  sentinel.  We  were  about  four  hundred  miles 
from  the  frontiers,  at  the  commencement  of  a  most  inclement  winter. 
Had  we  lost  our  animals,  we  must  have  perished,  exposed  as  we  were  on 
those  vast  prairies  to  bands  of  Pawnee,  Caraanche,  and  other  hostile 
Indians. 

"  The  party  proceeded  to  Mr.  Bent's  House,  a  few  miles  further,  where 
we  camped.  Col.  Fremont  intended  to  procure  fresh  supplies  of  pro- 
visions at  Bent's  Fort ;  but  the  Indians  had  destroyed  and  sacked  it.  Mr 
Bent  had  saved  some  sugar  and  coffee  with  which  he  kindly  supplied  us. 
Here  all  the  men  were  provided  with  fresh  animals  preparatory  to  ascend- 
ing the  immense  mountains  now  in  sight.     An  Indian  lodgo  sufficient  to 


TT. 


'fflE   FIFTH   EXPEDITION. 


435 


e  dashed  into 
le  rest  of  the 
nee  we  rode 
one  hundred 

leaving  only 
il  unscathed  ; 

and  camped 

f  the  devom- 

* 

disagreeable. 
;ainp  to  warm 
he  had  been 
him  to  travel 

ns,  I  thought 

justice  of  it. 

fc  horses  and 

ful  search  for 

n  the  vicinity, 

lie  line  of  our 

roved  that  wo 

er  shod.)  We 

river  a  consi- 

yenne  Indian 

On  examin- 

the  man  left 

me  they  took 

;n  unguarded 

m, 

the  inconsi- 
undred  miles 
uent  winter, 
we  wore  on 
other  hostile 

arthcr,  where 
plies  of  pro- 
cked  it.    Mr 

supplied  us. 
ry  to  asceud- 

sulFioicnt  to 


shelter  our  whole  party,  with  a  small  one  for  Col.  Fremont,  together  with 
a  buffalo  robe  for  each  man,  and  buiTalo  robe  overshoes,  moccasins.  &c., 
were  also  provided  by  Mr.  Bent. 

"  We  remained  here  several  days,  which  gave  me  an  opportunity  to 
daguerreotype  and  sketch  interesting  scenes  at  the  Cheyenne  Village. 
About  the  26th  November  we  started  for  the  mountains. 

"  After  crossing  the  Huarfano  River,  we  saw  the  immense  pile  of 
granite  rock  which  rises  perpendicularly  to  the  height  of  four  or  five 
hundred  feet  from  a  perfectly  level  valley ;  it  appeared  like  a  mammoth 
sugar-loaf,  (called  the  Iluarfano  Butte).  Col.  Fremont  expressed  a  desire 
to  have  several  views  of  it  from  different  distances  ;  the  main  party  pro- 
ceeded on  the  journey,  leaving  under  my  charge  the  mules  which  carried 
our  apparatus,  and  also  the  blankets  and  buffiilo  robes  of  the  whole 
camp,  it  being  necessary,  in  order  to  equalize  their  weiglit,  to  distril)utc 
the  different  boxes  on  three  or  four  animals.  Mr.  Eglostein,  Mr.  Fuller, 
and  two  Delawares  remained  with  me.  To  make  a  daguerreotype  view 
generally  occupied  froiji  one  to  two  hours — tlie  principal  part  of  that 
time,  however,  was  occupied  in  opening  the  apparatus,  an('  repacking 
and  reloading  the  mules.  When  wc  came  up  to  the  Butte,  Mr.  Fuller 
made  barometrical  observations  at  its  base,  and  also  ascended  to  the  top 
to  make  observations,  in  order  to  ascertain  its  exact  height.  This  took 
considerable  time,  and  when  we  had  completed  our  Avork,  we  found  that 
we  were  four  hours  behind  camp,  which  was  equal  to  twelve  miles.  Wc 
followed  the  trail  of  our  party,  through  the  immense  fields  of  artimcsia, 
until  night  overtook  us.  We  travelled  until  we  could  no  longer  distin- 
guish the  trail. 

"  We  discharged  our  arms  as  a  signal  to  our  camp — they  answered  us 
by  firing  off  their  rifles,  but  the  wind  being  then  high,  wc  could  not 
determine  their  exact  distance  or  position.  When  taking  counsel  together 
we  determined  to  encamp  for  the  night  on  the  side  of  a  mountain  covered 
■with  pines  near  by.  We  soon  had  a  large  fire  burning,  for  the  weather 
was  intensely  cold  and  disagreeable  ;  but  upon  unloading  our  animals  we 
found  that  we  had  with  us  all  the  blankets  and  buffalo  robes  of  the  camp, 
but  nothing  to  eat  or  drink,  the  night  was  so  dark  that  although  not  more 
than  half  a  mile  from  a  creek,  we  preferred  to  suffer  from  thirst  rather 
than  incur  fresh  danger  which  might  lurk  about  it.  I  had  with  me  three 
tin  boxes  containing  preserved  eggs  and  milk,  but  I  preferred  to  go  sup- 
perless  to  bed  rather  than  touch  the  small  supply  which  I  had,  unknowu 
to  the  rest,  carefully  hid  away  in  my  boxes  to  be  used  on  some  more  press- 
ing occasion.  Our  absence  was  most  keenly  felt  by  the  camp  for  they 
had  to  remain  up  around  their  fire  all  night,  not  having  anything  to  sleep 


J I 


'  :i    i! 


|¥     !■'      IIP 


iii; 


ill 


'■K\\ 


436 


LrFE   AND   SERVICES   OF  JOFiN   C.    FREMONT. 


on.  Wo  also  watched  all  night  fearful  lest  our  animals  should  stray  away 
or  that  we  should  be  attacked  by  Indians.  At  day-dawn  we  reloaded  our 
animals,  found  our  lost  trail,  and  we  soon  met  some  of  our  party  wliom 
Col.  Fremont  had  sent  out  to  find  us;  when  we  got  to  the  camp  they  were 
all  ready  for  a  start  awaiting  us.  A  delicious  l)reakfast  of  venison  and 
buffalo,  pot-pourri  had  been  prepared,  and  we  discussed  its  lucrita  with 
an  appetite  sharpened  by  a  twcnty*four  hours  fast. 

"  We  entered  the  San  Luis  valley  through  the  Sand  Ilill  Pass,  which 
was  admirably  adapted  for  railroad  purposes.  We  continued  through  the 
valley  of  the  Rio  Grande  over  the  Sarawatch  mountains  into  the  Sara- 
watch  valley,  through  the  Cochatope  Pass,  on  the  summit  of  which  we 
found  but  little  snow.  Our  road  lay  through  a  forest  oC  trees  still  in  foli* 
lage,  with  immensely  high  mountains  of  snow  on  either  side  of  the  pass. 

"  From  the  top  of  the  highest  I  made  daguerreotype  panorama  of  the 
continuous  ranges  of  mountains  which  slumbered  at  my  feet  covered  with 
their  everlasting  mantle  of  snow  in  which  we  were  destined  to  suffer  so 
many  privations. 

"  Several  days  after  we  came  down  from  the  pass,  it  became  necessary 
to  ascend  a  steep  mountain  covered  with  from  two  to  throe  feet  of  snow. 
When  we  were  about  half  way  up,  the  foremost  baggage  mule  lost  hia 
balance  and  fell  down,  carrying  with  him  nearly  all  the  party,  who  might 
have  been  seen  tumbling  head  over  heels  down  the  mountain,  a  distance 
of  several  hundred  feet.  I  was  thrown  from  my  horse,  and  remained 
up  to  my  head  in  the  snow,  but  my  horse  was  rolled  over  to  the  very 
bottom,  where  I  found  him  unharmed.  One  horse  and  one  mule  were 
killed  on  the  spot. 

"After  descending  a  very  steep  mountain  on  the  deep  snows  of  which 
we  passed  the  coldest  night  I  experienced  during  our  journey — ther- 
mometer at  daylight,  being  near  30^.  We  camped  on  a  creek  fringed 
with  willows,  and  mterspersed  with  cottonwood;  the  country  indicating 
that  there  might  be  game  about,  our  Dela  wares  sallied  out  in  quest  of 
some.  We  at  this  time  were  on  rations  oi'  meat,  biscuit,  and  had  killed 
our  first  horse  for  food  ;  towards  night  our  hunters  returned  and  brought 
with  them  the  choice  parts  of  a  fine  fat  young  horse,  that  they  had 
killed.  He  was  one  of  three  or  four  v,ild  ones  which  they  discovered 
grazing  some  four  miles  from  camp.  Our  men,  in  consequence,  received 
a  considerable  addition  to  their  stock  of  provision,  which  when  cooked 
proved  mucli  more  palatable  tliiin  our  l>i'ok"n  down  horses. 

"The  JJclawares  also  discovered  recent  foof-prints  of  Utah  Indians. 
This  inlbrm:Uion   caused  Col.    Fremont  to  doulde  the    (juard  and  examine 


)NT. 


DLSCIl'LINE   UK   TIIP:   CAMP. 


437 


)ulcl  stray  away 
'c  reloaded  our 
ir  party  wlioin 
am|)  tliey  were 
)f  venison  and 
its  merits  with 

ill  Pass,  which 
cd  throui^h  the 
into  the  Sara- 
it  of  which  wo 
CCS  still  in  foli* 
Ic  of  the  pass, 
norania  of  the 
;t  covered  with 
id  to  aulVer  so 

anic  necessary 
3  feet  of  snow. 

mule  lost  his 
rty,  Avho  might 
aiii,  a  distance 

and  remained 
to   the   very 

ne  nmle  were 


lows  of  which 
ourney — thcr- 

creek  fringed 
itry  indicating 
ut  in  quest  of 
md  had  killed 
i  and  brought 
hat  they  had 
ey  discovered 
ence,  received 

when  cooked 

Utah  Indians. 
I  and  examine 


the  arms  of  tho  whole  party,  who  hitherto  had  been  warned  by  him  of 
the  necessity  there  was  for  keeping  them  in  perfect  order.  Suddenly  it 
occurred  to  me  that  my  double  barrelled  gun  might  be  out  of  order  ;  I  had 
used  it  as  a 'walking  stick,'  in  descending  the  mountain;  that  day 
tl'.c  snow  was  so  deep  that  I  was  ol)liged  to  resort  to  that  course,  to 
ascend  myself.  I  quietly  went  to  the  place  where  I  had  laid  it  down, 
and  attempted  to  lire  it  off — both  caps  snapped;  the  quick  ear  of  Col. 
Fremont,  heard  the  cap  explode.  He  approached  me  very  solemnly  and 
gave  mo  a  lecture,  setting  forth  the  consequences  which  might  have 
resulted  from  a  sudden  attack  of  the  Indians,  on  our  camp.  '  Under  pre- 
sent circumstances,  Mr.  Carvalho,'  he  said,  '  I  shcdd  have  to  fight  for 
you.'  Ilis  rebuke  was  merited,  and  had  its  effect  throughout  the  camp, 
for  all  the  men  were  most  particular  afterwards  in  keeping  their  arms  in 
perfect  order.  We  travelled  that  day  nearly  twenty  ndles,  and  encamped 
in  an  Utah  Indian  village,  containing  a  large  number  of  lodges  and 
probably  several  hundred  persons.  The  men  were  mostly  armed  with 
I'ifies,  powder-horns,  and  also  with  their  Indian  implements  of  warfare. 
On  our  mules  was  packed  the  balance  of  our  '  fat  horse '  of  the  night 
before.  These  Indians  received  us  very  kindly,  and  during  the  evening  we 
exposed  our  wares,  viz. : — Blankets,  knives,  A:c.,  which  we  brought  along 
to  conciliate  the  Indians,  and  also  to  trade  with  them  for  horses  and 
venison.  Wc  made  several  purchases,  &c. — About  9  o'clock  after  plac- 
ing double  guard  round  our  animals,  and  while  we  were  regaling  on  fat 
deer  meat,  loud  noises  were  heard  approaching  the  camp.  We  soon  dis- 
tinguished the  voices  of  women  in  bitter  bewailment.  I  thought  it  was  a 
religious  ceremony  of  burial,  or  something  of  the  kind.  Col.  Fremont, 
requested  me  to  see  from  what  it  proceeded  ;  I  found  the  procession  of 
the  whole  Indian  camp;  the  warriors  all  armed,  headed  by  a  half-breed 
who  had  been  some  time  in  Mexico,  and  had  acquired  a  smattering  of 
the  Spanish  language,  who  acted  as  interi)reter — understanding  SpanLsh, 
gleaned  from  him  that  the  horse  our  Delawares  had  killed,  the  evening 
before,  some  20  miles  away,  belonged  to  one  of  the  squaws,  who  valued 
it  very  highly,  and  demanded  payment.  On  informing  Col.  Fremont, 
who  had  denied  himself  to  the  Indians,  he  remarked  to  the  women  we 
had  no  right  to  kill  it  without  remunerating  her  for  it,  and  he  deputed 
the  person  in  charge  of  the  baggage,  to  give  them  what  was  right. 
Having  seen  ou^  assortment,  they  wanted  a  part  of  everything  we  had, 
including  a  keg  of  gunpowder.  To  this  demand.  Col.  P'remont  gave  an 
absolute  refusal,  and  at  the  same  time,  expressed  his  desire  that  the  men 
should  not  sell,  barter,  or  give  away  a  single  grain  of  gunpowder,  on 
pain  of  his  severest  displeasure.     The  Indians  then  threatened  to  attack 


:  I 


:l  'I 


';i 


I''!! 


!!  i 


438 


LIFK    AND   SKRVIOKS   OF   JOHN    C.    FliKMONT. 


lis.  Col.  Fremont  clcfieil  t'.icin.  After  coiiHidc ruble  ])iitlpiice,  we  siio- 
ceeded  in  piuilyin},'  tlieiu  and  seiidiiif^  tiieiii  oil".  It  wa.s  now  daylif^ht. 
We  repackod  our  animals  and  raistnl  camp.  At  the  end  of  our  day's 
journey,  we  found  ourselves  on  the  Grand  Uiver,  thirty  miles  from  our 
last  camp.  Winle  at  supper,  tlie  guard  on  the  look-out  gave  the  alarni 
that  Indians  were  approaching.  The  word  was  given  to  arm  and  prepare 
to  receive  them. 

About  fifty  or  sixty  mounted  Utah  Indian  warriors,  all  armed  with  riflea 
and  bows  and  arrows,  displaying  their  powder-horns  and  cartouch-boxes 
most  conspicuously,  their  horses  full  of  mettle  and  gaily  caparisoned, 
came  gulluping  and  tearing  into  camp.  They  also  had  come  to  be  com- 
pensated fur  the  horse  which  had  been  paid  for  the  niglit  before.  They 
insisted  that  the  horse  did  not  belong  to  the  woman,  but  to  one  of  the 
Indians  then  present,  and  threatened  if  we  did  not  pay  them  "  a  great  deal 
of  red  clolh  and  blankets,  knives,  powder,"  &c.,  they  woidd  I'all  u|)on  us 
and  massacre  the  whole  party.  On  these  occasions.  Col.  Fremont  never 
showed  himself,  which  caused  the  Indians  to  have  consitlerable  more 
respect  for  the  Groat  Captain,  as  they  usually  called  him  ;  nor  did  he 
ever  conununicate  directly  with  them,  whicn  gave  him  time  to  deliberate, 
and  lent  a  mysterious  importance  to  his  messages. 

Very  much  alarmed,  I  entered  Col.  Fremont's  lodge,  and  told  him  their 
errand  and  their  threats.  He  at  once  expres.sed  his  determination  not  to 
submit  to  such  imposition,  and  at  the  same  time  laughed  at  their  threats. 
I  could  not  comprehend  his  calnmess.  I  deemed  our  j)o.sition  most 
alarming,  surrounded  as  we  were  by  armed  savages,  and  I  eviilently 
betrayed  my  alarm  in  my  countenance.  Col.  Fremont,  without  ajipareutly 
noticing  my  nervous  state,  remarked  that  he  knew  the  Indian  character 
perfectly,  and  he  did  not  hesitate  to  state  that  there  was  not  sullicicut 
powder  to  load  a  single  rifle  in  the  possession  of  the  whole  tribe  of  Utahs, 
"  If,"  continued  he,  "  they  had  had  any  ammunition,  they  would  have 
surrounded  and  massacred  us,  and  stolen  what  they  now  demand  and  are 
parleying  for."  I  at  once  saw  that  it  was  a  most  sensible  deduction,  and 
gathered  fresh  courage  ;  the  general  aspect  of  the  enemy  was  at  once 
changed ;  and  I  listened  to  his  directions  in  a  very  different  frame  of 
mind  than  when  I  entered.  lie  tore  a  leaf  from  his  journal,  and 
handing  it  to  me,  said :  "  Here,  take  this,  and  place  it  against  a 
tree,  and,  a  distance  near  enough  to  hit  it  every  time.  Discharge 
your  Colt's  navy  six  shooters — fire  at  intervals  of  ten  to  fifteen 
seconds — and  call  the  attention  of  the  Indians  to  the  fact  that  it 
is  not  necessary  for  white  men  to  load  their  arms.  I  did  so.  After 
the  first  shot,  they  pointed  to  their  own  riflea,   as  much  as  to  .say 


>N'r. 


OATH    AGAl^'ST   CANNIBALISM. 


43U 


eiic(>,  wo  siie- 
iiow  (l;iylif,'lit. 
1  of  our  (lay's 
iiik's  IVoiii  our 
ivo  th(!  aliirm 
n  unci  prepiiro 

10(1  with  rifles 
iirtoucli-hoxcs 
Cttparisone(J, 
no  to  be  eoni- 
>oforo.  They 
to  one  of  the 
"u  f,M'Oiit  (leal 
1  I'all  upon  us 
'oinont  never 
lerable  more 
nor  (11(1  he 
to  deliberate, 

iW  him  their 

uition  not  to 

'heir  threats. 

i.sltion   most 

I  evidently 

It  apparently 

!in  eharaeter 

lot  sullicieut 

be  of  Ulahs. 

would  have 

and  and  are 

luction,  and 

vas  at  once 

it  frame  of 

ournal,  and 

t  against  a 

Discharge 

to    lifteen 

iict    that   it 

so.     After 

as  to   3a,v 


they  could  do  th(^  same  (if  they  had  happened  to  have  the  powder.) 
I,  without  lowering  my  arm,  fired  a  second  shot;  this  startled  them. 
I  (lischarg(Ml  it  a  third  time;  their  curiosity  and  ama/'Miicnt  was 
increased;  tlie  fourtii  time  I  placed  llie  pistol  in  llie  hands  of  tli(>  chief, 
and  told  him  to  discharge  it,  which  he  did,  hitting  the  paper  and  making 
another  impression  of  the  bullet.  Tlie  lil'th  and  sixth  times  two  other 
Indians  exploded  it ;  having  discharged  the  six,  it  was  time  to  replace 
it  in  my  l)elt.  I  had  another  om;  ready  loaded,  which  I  dexterously  sub- 
stituted, and  scared  them  into  tiic  acknowledgment  that  they  were  all 
at  our  mercy,  for  we  could  kill  them  as  fust  us  wc  liked,  if  we  were  so 
disposed.  After  this  exhibition,  they  forgot  their  first  demand,  but  pro- 
posed to  exchange  some  of  their  horses  fur  blankets.  We  ell'ected  a 
trade  for  three  or  four  a[)parently  sound  strong  animals — which  in  a  few 
days  proved  utterly  worthless,  having  gone  so  lame  that  we  had  to  kill 
them  for  food.  The  Indians  asked  to  remain  in  camp  as  it  was  then  near 
dark,  and  they  had  ridden  thirty  miles.  Col.  J'remont  assented,  but  on  thia 
occasion,  eleven  men  were  on  guard  at  one  time,  all  armed.  The  Indians, 
who  no  doubt  waited  in  our  camp  to  run  our  iiorses  otf  during  the  night, 
were  much  disappointed  in  not  having  an  opportunity.  They  quietly  de- 
parted next  morning,  while  our  whole  camp  listened  to  the  energetic  ex- 
clamation of  Col.  Fremont,  that  the  '  Price  of  safety  is  eternal  vigilance.' 

"  At  last  we  are  drawn  to  the  necessity  of  killing  our  brave  horso 
for  food.  To-day  the  first  sacrifice  was  made.  It  was  with  us  all  a 
solemn  event,  rendered  far  more  solemn  however  by  the  impressive 
scene  which  followed..  Col.  Fremont  came  out  to  us,  and  after  referring 
to  the  dreadful  necessities  to  which  his  men  had  been  reduced  on  a 
previous  expedition,  of  eating  each  other,  he  begged  us  to  swear  that  in 
no  extremity  of  hunger  would  any  of  his  men  lift  his  hand  against  or 
attempt  to  prey  upon  a  comrade  ;  sooner  let  him  die  with  them  than  live 
upon  them.  They  all  promptly  took  the  oath,  and  threatened  to  shoot 
the  first  one  that  hinted  or  proposed  such  a  thing. 

"  It  was  a  most  impressive  scene,  to  witness  twenty-two  men  on  a 
Biiowy  mountain,  with  bare  heads,  and  hands  and  cy(!3  upraised  to 
Heaven,  uttering  the  solemn  vow  '  So  help  uie  God  I' — and  the  valley 
echoed,  'So  help  mo  God!'  I  never,  until  that  moment,  realizcil  the 
awlul  situation  in  which  I  was  placed.  I  remembered  the  words  of  the 
Psalmist,  and  felt  perfectly  assured  of  my  final  safety.  Tiiey  wandered  in 
the  wilderness  in  a  solitary  way  ;  they  found  no  city  to  dwell  in.  IJum/ry 
and  thirsty  their  soul  fainteth  within  them,  and  they  cried  unto  th«  Lord 

in  their  trouble  and  he  delivered  them  out  of  their  distresses.* 

******** 


V,  I 


')  n 


ii 


IK) 


I. IKK    AND    HKUVU'KH    Oh'   JOHN    V.    I-UKMONT. 


•P 


"Wliriiiiii  iiiiliiiiil  fjiivo  (>ii(,  lit' wnH  n)H>t  (I<>wn  l»y  tin-  linliiuis,  wlio 
iiunicilinlclv  nit  lii-^  lliimil,  mimI  niivciI  nil  llic  Mnoil  in  (tiir  iiiinp  kftllc. 
'I'lii^  iiiiiiiiiil  MiH  (liviiii'ii  iiilo  l\M'iil\ -l\\(t  |Miit'i.  Two  |i;irl  1  Inr  Cnl.  Kri'- 
iiiont  Mild  liix  roolt,  li>ii  |i:nN  Inr  llii>  witilr  niiH|i,  iiml  Ini  \\n\\H  lur  llii> 
IlidiiMis.  ('ol.  I'lciMitiil  liillicito  imsscd  witli  Ids  nllicns  ;  iil  lld.^  linn<  lie 
riM|iu>Nl('d  (lull  llii-v  Miiidd  *<\t'ii<i>  Idin,  us  it  ^'iivo  liiiii  pidii,  Mtid  ciiIIimI  In 
luind  till-  Imirildf  sri'iicM  «  hitli  liiid  Ihtii  ninrlrd  diiiin;;  Ids  Inst  cxprdi- 
linti  lu'  roidd  not  Ht'o  Ids  olVucrs  «)ldi;;i'd  to  jiaituKc  ol'  sufli  disguslinf; 
(nod. 

"Tilt-  lulc  lit<  adopted  wns  tliiil  oiii«  ludnial  sliould  serve  loi*  HIX  liiPiiN 
lor  tli<'  «lioU<  puily.  Il'oiie  guvc  out.  in  llic  mennliisie,  of  (MMirse  il  wiH 
ui\  e\eeptioii  ;  Iml  otiierwise,  on  no  eonsideriilinii  was  an  animal  to  ho 
blnii^dilered,  lor,  «>veiv  oiu>  tlial  was  Killed,  placed  a  man  on  Inot,  and 
lindted  vwv  elianees  of  eseape  IVnin  our  present  silnation.  H  the 
men  elH>se  to  eat  up  tlieir  six  meals  all  in  one  day,  tliey  woulil 
have  to  ^»t  without  until  the  lime  arrived  lor  Killiiif;  another.  It 
t'reiiueully  happened  that  tlu'  while  eanip  was  willmul  limd  Iroin 
Iwenty-tovir  to  thiity  si\  hours,  widle  Col.  Fremont  and  the  PelawarcH 
always  had  a  meal.  The  latter  relijfiiuisly  ahstained  iVom  eueroaeli- 
\i\^  on  the  portion  allotted  lor  another  meal,  while  many  men  ol'  our 
eam]).  1  may  say  all  <d'  them,  not  eontent  with  their  luution,  woiihl,  to 
falisly  the  eravinj;-^  of  hun}:er,  surreptitiously  purhdn  Irom  their  pilo  of" 
meat,  at  ditVereut  times,  sundry  jiieees,  thus  depriviiif;  thenistdvea  ofciieh 
other's  allowauee.  My  own  sense  »>!' rij;ht  was  so  subdued  hy  the  HulVor- 
in_e;s  I  endm-ed  hy  hiiUf^er,  and  walUiuf;;  almost,  harelooteil  throu^di  tlio 
BJiow,  that  while  ivtunj;  to  jruard  (uie  idfjjht,  I  stole  a  pieee  of  Irozeii  horso 
liver,  ate  it  raw,  and  (hotight  it,  at  (ho  lime,  the  most  delieioiis  morsel  I 
over  tasted. 

"  The  entrails  ol'  th(>  horse  were  '  well  shaken'  (for  we  had  no  water 
to  wash  them  in)  and  hoiled  with  snow,  prod\U'iu<x  a  hij^hly  llavcu-ed 
KO>;p,  whieh  the  men  eiuisiderod  so  valuable  and  didieious  that  they  I'or- 
hatle  the  eook  to  sKim  the  pot  t'tu'  I'ear  any  portion  ol'  it  mi^lit  he  lost. 
The  hide  was  dividtMl  into  oiiual  portions,  and  with  the  Iioiu's  roasted  and 
burnt  to  a  crisp.  This  we  nnu\ihed  (Ui  the  road  ;  but  the  men  not  being 
gatislied  witli  the  d.ivision  of  the  meat  by  the  cook,  nuide  him  turn  hi.s 
back,  while  another  took  up  each  sliare  separattdy,  and  iiupiired  who 
slu>uld  have  it.  When  the  snows  admitted  it  wo  collected  the  thick 
loaves  of  a  species  of  cactus  which  wo  also  put  in  tlu'  fire  to  binn  olf  the 
prioklos,  and  ate.  It  then  resembled  in  taste  and  nourishinont  an  Irish 
potato  poorui<r.  Wo  lived  in  this  way  for  nearly  fifty  day.>^,  travelling 
from  Grand  Kivor  across  the  divide  to  (irocn  Kivor,  and  over  the  lirst 


ilr  ^^ 


DKAIII    OK    I'lr.f.l.K. 


Ml 


NT. 

IllllillllM,    >vIm» 

r  riiiiip  kcflli>. 

H  Itll"  ( 'ol.    I'Vc- 

piutH   (ur   ||i(< 

It  iIiIm  linii'  Ih< 

1111(1    I'tlllcil     It) 

in  Inst  <'X|KMli- 
rli   (lisf,'nsliiif; 

'  lor  six  iiiciih 
(UMisc  it  was 

niiiiiial  lo  Imi 
on   loot,  iiinl 

ioii.       It'    till' 

llicy    wotilii 

niiollicr.      It 

I        Inncl       I'loiri 

1h>    l*('liiwai'('H 

Mil    ciiiToacli- 

iiicii  of  (nir 

on,  would,  to 

llii'ir  pilo  of. 

iflvcH  ofracli 

liy  lli(>  HuH'or- 

tliroi)<,'li  ilu^ 

iVo/.t'ii  liorso 

>iis  nioivs(>|  I 

ad  no  water 
lily  liavornl 
lilt  (lu>y  I'or- 
i;L;lit  bo  lost, 
roasted  and 
'11  not  iicinj;- 
lini  turn  liis 
uiuircd  who 
1  the  thiclv 
Mini  oil'  tlio 
Mit  an  Irish 
\  travelling 
vor  the  lirst 


rnnffo  of  the  WaliNadi  MouiilaifH,  on  foot,  Ctd.  Fremont  nt  onr  lieail, 
tramping  a  pntliway  lor  IiIm  men  ((dolhnv.  lie,  um  widl  as  the  rest  of  tlin 
parly,  (owardn  the  lant  were  entirely  liarel'oot— HOin(>  ol'tliein  IiimI  ii  pieeo 
of  niw  hide  on  their  leet,  wliii  h,  however,  liiToniinj'  hard  and  slilVliy  the 
frost,  made  Ihein  more  MneomrorlMldi'  llniti  walKini;  wilhont.  any. 

"  AlMMit  the  end  of-lannary  wr'  eroH^id  the  (Ireeii  llivi-r,  and  entered 
npon  a  eonntry  liarri'ii  and  stiiih'  to  a,  de^^'iee,  over  whicli  we  lriive||e(l 
until  wo  ^ot  lo  the  liase  ol  the  Wiihsach  monnlaiiiH, 

"  /'rliriiiiri/  \nl.  VcHterday  Mr.  Oliver  Knller,  ofSr  fjoui-i,  who  had  lieen  on 
foot  for  some  weeks,  suddenly  ^ave  (Mit,  Our  engineers  and  myself  werf^ 
with  him.  lie  found  himsidf  unalde  to  pioeeed  the  snow  was  very  deeji, 
Hiid  Imh  feet  were  loidly  IVozeii.  lie  insisted  that  we  should  leuvi!  him, 
Itinl  hasten  lo  niiiip  for  rtdief ;  not  liein^  iiMe  to  render  him  any  aH.siH- 
tnnci!  I>y  lemainin^,  we  wrapped  his  Idankets  around  him  and  left  liini  on 
llie  trail.  In  vain  we  searched  for  material  to  liuild  him  a  lire  -nothing 
waH  visiltle  hill,  a  wild  waste  of  hiiow  ;  we  were  also  hadly  crippled,  and 
w(f  did  not  arrivrt  in  camp  unlil  ten  o'clock  at  ni;;ht  at  which  time  it; 
began  nnowing  furiously..  We  told  (/'ol.  Fremont  rd'  .Mr.  Fuller'n  HitiiatioD, 
when  he  sent  ii  Mexican  mimed  Frank,  with  the  two  best  animal.s  and 
cooked  liorHcnieat,  to  l>ring  Mr.  Fuller  in.  There  was  not  a  dry  eye  in 
the  wliol(>  camp  that  night  -tin;  iikmi  sat  U[)  anxir)U.sly  awaiting  tin;  rcturu 
of  our  companiiMi.s.  At  daylight  they  being  still  out,  (Jol.  Fremont  sent 
three  Delawares  mount(Ml,  to  look  for  them  -about  ten  o'clo<;k  one  of 
them  returned  with  the  Mexican  and  two  mules.  Frank  waH  badly  frozen 
bo  had  lo.4t  tln^  track,  and  bewildere(|  and  cold,  ho  sank  down  holding  on 
to  the  aiiimal.s,  wluM'e  In;  wa.s  found  by  the  Delaware  during  the  afternoon. 
The  two  I)elaware.s  .supporting  Mr.  Fuller  were,  neen  aii[»roacliing.  He 
wuH  found  nwak<;  but  alino.st  dead  from  the  cold  and  faintness.  ('ol. 
Fremont  [lersonally  rendered  him  all  the  assistance  in  his  pf)wer.  Ho  did 
all  of  u.s — for  he  was  beloved  and  respected  by  the  whoh;  cam[)  for  his 
gentlemanly  behavior  and  his  many  virtue.^.  (Jol.  Fremont  remained  at 
thi.s  dreary  place,  noar  three  days  to  allow  [)oor  Fiilh^r  time  to  recruit — 
and  aflerward.s  a.'^.signed  to  him  the  best  niulo  to  carry  liim,  while  two  of 
the  nicMi  walked  on  either  .side  to  supr)ort  him,  A  portion  of  our  .scanty 
lood  was  appropriated  at  every  meal  from  (.'ach  mari'.s  portion  to  make 
Mr.  Fuller's  larger,  as  he  reciuired  .sustenance  more  than  they  diil.  On 
the  'Jth  February,  almo.st  in  sight  of  succor,  the  Almighty  took  him  to 
himself:  ho  died  on  iior.seback — hi.s  two  companions  wiafiped  him  in  lii.s 
India  rubber  blanket  and  laid  him  across  the  trail.  We  arrived  next 
day  at  Farawan.  After  the  men  had  rested  a  little,  we  went  in  company 
with  three  or  four  of  the  inhabitant.^  of  Palawan,  to  bury  our  deceased 
friend.     Mis  rcmninR  had  not  been  disturbed  during  our  ab.<ience. 


:    ii 


■%   ;.: 


I-  i    I 


}  :i' 


i!    ,  l; 


I'll 


'1 


m 


■i 

■ 
t 

.■;ri  1 
'it'  , 

1- 

[1 

■1 

(: 
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U2 


LIFE    AND   bEKVICKS   OF   JOHN   C.    FREMONT. 


*'  When  wo.  arrivcil  lU  Tarawan  the  Mormons  treated  us  very  kindly, 
and  several  of  flioni  told  inc  if  the,,  had  known  of  our  situation  they 
would  have  hastened  to  t)ur  assistanee.  My  illness  prevented  my  accom- 
panying (Jol.  Fren\ont  on  the  21st  of  February  ;  1  followed  about  throe 
months  after,  on  his  trail  of  IS  14  and  arrived  at  Los  Angeles  in  June, 
thence  hv  steamboat  to  San  Francisco  where  I  again  met  our  late  leader." 


Col.  Benton,  speaking  of  tin's  last  expedition  of  Col. 
Fremont,  says,  "lie  went  straight  to  the  spot  where 
the  guide  had  gone  astray — followed  the  course  des- 
cribed by  the  mountain  men  and  found  safe  and  easy 
passes  all  the  way  to  California,  through  a  good  country, 
and  upon  the  straight  line  of  38  and  39  degrees." 

Though  the  result  of  this  expedition,  was  so  satisfac- 
tory, the  processes  b}'-  M'hich  it  was  reached  were  any- 
thing but  satisfactory.  Nothing  was  heard  of  the  party 
in  the  United  States  until  three  months  after  their  depar- 
ture. That  came  through  Col.  Babbitt,  the  Secretary  of 
Utah  Territory.  On  the  8th  of  February,  1854,  four 
days'  journey  from  Great  Salt  Lake,  on  his  way  to 
Washington  with  tlie  United  States  mail,  an  Indian 
came  to  his  camp  and  said  that  he  had  just  met  a  party 
of  Americans  who  w^ere  "  veiy  hungry."  Babbitt  soon 
overtook  t^'.e  party,  and  found  it  consisted  of  Col.  Fre- 
mont and  his  companions.  They  had  lived  iit\y  days  on 
horse-llesh,  and  for  the  last  forty-eight  hours  had  been 
without  food  of  any  kind. 

Col.  Babbitt,  who  was  then  on  his  way  to  San  Fran- 
cisco, wished  Fremont  to  go  directly  there  with  him, 
but  he  refused,  notwithstanding  the  enfeebled  condition 
of  his  l)arty,  because  he  had  not  yet  completed  his 
surveys,  and  he  was  determined  never  to  return  witliout 
them.  lie  therefore  held  on  his  course  the  next  day, 
having  lirst   written    the   following    letter,   w'hicli  he 


i  4  I 

1  I 


m'. 


LETTER   FROM   COL.    FREMONT. 


443 


3  Tcry  kindly, 
situation  they 
ed  my  accorn- 
d  about  three 
olos  in  Juno, 
.'  lute  leader." 

on  of  Col. 
pot  wliere 
Diirse  des- 
5  and  easy 
1  conn  try, 

3S." 

:)  satisfac- 
u'ere  any- 
tlio  party 
eir  depar- 
crctary  of 
854,  four 
s  way  to 
m  Indian 
it  a  party 
)bitt  soon 
Col.  Fre- 
}'  days  on 
had  been 

m  Fran- 
itli  him, 
condition 
eted  his 
I  witlioiit 
icxt  day, 
'liicli  he 


requested  Col.  Babbitt  to  hand  to  Col.  Benton  as  soon 
as  possible. 

"  Parawas.  Iron  CorNTT,*  ) 

"Utah  Tkhkitohy,   /''tl/.  9,  l^M.  j 

"  Dear  Sir  :  I  have  had  the  good  Ibrtunc  to  meet  here  our  friend 
Mr.  Babbitt,  the  Secretary  of  the  Territory,  who  is  on  his  way  to  Wash 
ington,  in  charge  of  the  mail  and  other  very  interesting  dispatches,  the 
importance  of  wliicli  is  urging  him  forward  with  extreme  rapidity,  lie 
passes  (Iire<:tly  on  this  morning,  and  I  have  barely  a  few  moments  to  givo 
you  intelligence  of  our  safe  arrival  and  of  our  general  good  health  and 
reasonable  success  in  the  object  of  our  expedition. 

"  This  winter  has  happened  to  be  one  of  extreme  and  unusual  cold. 
Here,  the  citizens  inform  me,  it  has  iieen  altogether  the  severest  since  the 
settlement  of  this  valley.  Conse([uently,  so  far  as  the  snows  are  con. 
cerned,  the  main  condition  of  our  exploration  has  been  fuliHled.  We 
entered  the  mountain  regions  on  the  Huerfano  River  on  tiie  3rd  of 
December,  and  issued  from  it  here  on  the  7th  of  this  montli,  arriving 
here  yesterday  afternoon.  We  went  through  the  Cochatope  Pass  on 
the  14th  December,  with  four  inches — not  feet,  take  notice,  but  inches — 
of  snow  on  the  level,  among  the  pines  and  in  the  shade  on  the  summit  of 
the  Pass. 

"  This  decides  what  you  consider  the  great  question,  and  fulfills  th« 

leading  condition  of  my  explorations  ;  and  therefore  I  go  no  further  into 

details   in  this  letter. 

"I   congratulate   you  on  this  verification  of  your  judgment,  and  tht 

good  prospect  it  holds  out  of  final  success  in  carrying  the  road 
by  this  central  line.  Nature  has  been  bountiful  to  this  region,  in  accu- 
mulating here,  within  a  few  miles  of  where  I  am  writing,  vast  deposits 
of  iron,  and  coal,  and  timber,  all  of  the  most  excellent  quality ;  and  a 
great  and  powerful  interior  State  will  spring  up  immediately  in  the  stepa 
of  the  Congressional  action  which  should  decide  to  carry  the  road 
through  this  region.  In  making  my  expedition  to  this  point  I  save  nearly 
a  parallel  of  latitude,  shortening  the  usual  distance  from  Green  River  to 
this  point  by  over  a  hundred  miles.  In  crossing  to  the  Sierra  Nevada  I 
shall  go  direct  by  an  unexplored  route,  aiming  to  strike  directly  th« 
Tcjon  Passes  at  the  head  of  the  San  Joaquin  valley,  through  which  in 
1850,  I  drove  from  two  to  three  thousand  head  of  cattle  that  I  delivered 

•^Valley  of  the  Parawan,  about  CO  miles  east  of  the  mendows  of 
Santa  Clara,  between  37  and  88  degrees  of  north  latitude,  and  between 
113  and  114  degrees  of  west  longitude  t  elevation  ab ova  the  ee*  aboul 
6,000  feet. 


t! 


vf^ 


.1)1'^  1- 


!!      : 


:i« 


I      ! 


|l|l' 


:;■!; 


'  nil';' 
ii! :; 

■i 


"I 


444 


LIB^E   AND   SERVICES   OF   JOHN   C.    FREMONT. 


to  the  Indian  Commissioners.  I  shall  make  what  speed  I  possibly  can, 
go'wrr  light,  and  abandoning  the  more  elaborated  survey  of  my  previous 
line,  to  gain  «^peed. 

"  Until  within  about  a  hundred  miles  of  this  place  we  had  daguerre- 
otyped  the  country  over  which  we  passed,  but  were  forced  to  abandon  all 
our  heavy  baggage  to  save  the  men,  and  I  shall  not  stop  to  send  back 
for  it.  The  DoUiwares  all  came  in  sound,  but  the  whites  of  my  party 
were  all  exhausted  and  broken  up,  and  more  or  less  frost-bitten.  I  lost 
one,  Mr.  Fuller,  of  St.  Louis,  Missouri,  who  died  on  entering  this  valley. 
He  died  like  a  man,  on  horseback,  in  his  saddle,  and  will  be  buried  like  a 
soldier  on  the  spot  -.vhere  he  fell.* 

'•I  hope  soon  to  Bee  you  in  Washington,  Mr.  Babbitt  expects  to  see 
you  before  the  end  of  March.  Among  other  documents  which  he  carries 
with  him  are  the  maps  and  report  of  Captain  Gunnison's  party. 

"Sincerely  and  affectionately, 

"John  C.  Frkmont. 

"Col.  Benton,  Washington, 

"P.  S. — This  is  the  Little  Salt  Lake  settlement,  and  was  commenced 
three  years  since.  Population  now  four  hundred,  and  one  death  by  sick- 
ness since  the  settlement  was  made.  We  have  been  most  hospitably 
received.  Mr.  Babbitt  has  been  particularly  kind,  and  has  rendered  rae 
very  valuable  assistance." 

Col.  Babbitt  reported  in  San  Francisco  that  the 
chances  were  against  the  party  ever  coming  through, 
they  were  so  enfeebled.  In  this,  however,  he  had  mis- 
calculated the  energy  and  resources  of  the  man  who 
conducted  it,  though  he  did  not  exaggerate  the  difficul- 
ties which  were  to  be  met  and  overcome.  Col.  Fremont 
did  arrive  about  the  first  of  May,  worn  and  enfeebled 
it  is  true,  by  his  journey,  but  with  the  evidences  for 
which  he  had  encountered  all  its  perils  in  his  hand. 

Col.  Fremont  was  tendered  a  public  dinner  by  the 
citizens  of  San  Francisco  soon  after  his  arrival ;  he 
declined  the  compliment  however,  as  he  did  every 
engagement  having  a  tendency  to  delay  his  departure 

*  Pep  journal  of  Mr.  Onrvlho. 


ONT. 

I  possibly  can, 
of  my  previous 

had  daguerre- 
to  abandon  all 
p  to  send  back 
's  of  my  party 
bitten.  I  lost 
ing  this  valley, 
e  buried  like  a 

expects  to  see 
iiich  he  carries 
irty. 

Fremont. 


PACIFIC   RAILROAD. 


445 


for  "Washington,  whither  he  desired  to  carry  tlie  results 
of  his  explorations  with  all  practicable  dispatch,  in  order 
that  Congress,  then  occupied  with  the  subject  of  a  trans- 
continental road,  might  have  the  benefit  of  his  observa- 
tions. 

No  official  report  of  this  expedition  has  yet  been  pre- 
pared, bul  immediately  upon  reaching  Washington  he 
summed  ou'o  its  results  and  the  conclusions  to  which  it 
had  brought  him,  in  a  very  instructive  and  interesting 
letter  communicated  to  a  Washington  paper.* 

*  See  Appendix. 


s  commenced 
death  by  sick- 
est hospitably 
i  rendered  me 


that   the 
^  through, 
3  had  mis- 
man  who 
le  difficul- 
.  Fremont 
enfeebled 
dences  for 
band. 
2r  by  the 
rival ;   he 
[id   every 
depprture 


I  'H 


ili," 


il 

f 


ll'li 


l|V 


inl 


l'':i!i.;i!: 


mvA 


1.1 


446 


LIFE    AND    BKliVlOES   OF   JOHN   C.    FKEMOICT. 


CHAPTER   XVIII. 


COL.   FREMONT   COJIES   'J"0   liESIDlC  IN   NEW  YORK — IS   TALKED 

OF     FOR     THE     rKESIDENGY LE'ITEK     TO     GOV.     ROBINSON 

OF     KANSAS LETTER     TO     A     I'UBLIC     MEETING     IN     NEW 

YORK     UPON     THE     SUBJECT     OF     TROUBLES     IN    KANSAS 

IS    NOMINATED    FOR   THE    PRESIDENCY     I^Y    THE    NATIONAL 
REPUBLICAN      CONVENTION LETTER      OF      ACCEPTANCE 


LEITER  ACCICPTING   THE   NOMINATION   OF   THE 
AMERICANS." 


a 


NATIONAL 


In  the  spring  of  1855,  Col.  Fremont,  with  his  family, 
took  up  his  residence  iu  the  city  of  I^ew  York  for  a 
few  months,  that  he  miLcht  avail  himself  of  the  facilities 
which  that  metropolis  would  afford  him  in  bringing  out 
an  elaborate  report  of  his  last  expedition.  While  thus 
em])loyed  atid  living  in  the  most  absolute  seclusion,  his 
name  began  to  be  discussed  in  political  circles  as  a  suita- 
ble candidate  of  the  parties  opposed  to  extending  slavery 
and  slave  representation  in  the  country,  for  the  next 
Presidency.  Wherever  the  suggestion  was  made  it  svas 
favorably  received,  and  before  llie  meeting  of  Congress, 
in  December,  the  feeling  of  the  Northern  States  was 
ascertained  to  be  not  unfriendly  to  his  nomination, 
though  his  name,  up  to  that  time,  we  believe  had 
not  been  mentioned  in  connection  with  the  Presidency 
by  a  single  leading  journal. 


:rr. 


-IS  TALKED 
.  ROBINSON 
G     IN     NEW 

r    KANSAS 

-:  NATIONAL 
DEPTANCE 


u 


NATIONAL 


his  family, 
i'ork  for  a 

e  facilities 

iiigiiig  out 
While  thus 

lusion,  his 
3  as  a  suita- 
ing  slavery 
ir  the  next 
nade  it  was 
f  Congress, 

States  was 
loinination, 
elieve  had 
Presidency 


LEITEK   TO   GOVERNOK   ROBINSON. 


447 


The  election  to  tlic  speakership  of  the  thirty-fourth 
Congress,  of  N.  P.  Panks,  (»f  Massachusetts,  who  had 
been  one  of  ihe  first  to  discern  the  fitness  and  expe- 
diency of  nominaling  Col.  FrenHint  for  the  Presidency, 
and  the  publication  of  a  friendly  letter  from  an  old 
California  friend,  Governor  Charles  Robinson,  who  had 
then  recently  become  involved  in  a  perilous  struggle 
for  freedom  in  Kansas,  removed  whatever  doubts  had 
existed  among  Col.  Fremont's  friends  about  the  })ro- 
priety  of  publicly  ])resenting  his  name.  Gov.  Pobiuson 
had  shared  with  Cul.  Fremont  some  of  the  penalties  of 
too  great  devotion  to  the  cause  of  freedom  when  they 
were  together  in  California,  and  the  letter  to  which  we 
have  refeiTcd,  was  written  to  give  the  governor  assu- 
rance of  his  cordial  sympathy  with  him  in  the  important 
contest  which  he  was  waging  so  bravely  against  fearful 
odds  in  Kansas.     It  ran  as  iollows  : 

LETTER   FROM   COL.    FREMONT   TO    GOV.    T^OBINSOX. 

^  New  Youk,  March  17, 185C. 

"My  Dear  Sir:  Your  letter  of  FeLruury  reiK^hed  me  in  Wasli- 
ington  sonic  time  since.  I  nad  it  Avitli  miu-Ii  satist'action.  It  was 
a  groat  pleasure  to  lind  you  I'etained  so  lively  a  recollection  of  our 
inti'reourse  in  California.  Jiut  my  own  exi)erience  is,  that  perina- 
rient  and  valnalile  friendsliij)s  are  most  often  formed  in  contests  and 
strua'^des.  If  a  man  lias  good  points,  then  they  become  salient,  and 
A\'e  know  each  other  suddenly. 

''I  had  both  been  thinking  and  speaking  of  you  latterly.  The 
Banks  balloting  in  tlie  House,  and  your  movements  in  Kansn-,  have 
naturally  carried  my  mind  back  to  our  Imndred  odd  ballots  in  Cali- 
fornia and  your  letter  came  seasonably  and  fitly  to  coniph.'te  the 
connection.  We  were  defeated  then;  but  that  content  was  only  an 
incident  in  a  great  struggle,  and  tliC  victory  was  deferred,  not  U)st. 
You  have  carried  to  another  field  the  same  i)rinciple,  with  r-ourago 


448 


LIFE   AND   SERVICES   OF   JOHN   C.    FKKMONT. 


"         i! 


P  !  I 


4  '1' 


and  ability  to  maintain  it ;  and  I  make  you  my  sincere  congvatnla- 
tions  on  your  success — incomplete  so  far,  but  destined  in  the  end  to 
trinmiili  absolutely.  1  bad  been  -waiting  to  sec  uliat  shape  the 
Kan.sa.^  ijiK.-ii(.ii  would  take  in  Congress,  that- 1  might  he  enabled  to 
give  you  Home  views  in  relation  to  the  proljable  re-ult.  Nothing 
yet  has  been  accomplished.  But  I  am  satisfied  that  in  the  end 
Congress  will  take  etlicient  measures  to  lay  before  the  American 
peo])le  the  exact  truth  concerning  your  atbiirs.  Neither  you  nor  I 
can  liave  any  doubt  what  verdict  the  people  will  [jronounce  upon  a 
truthful  exjjosition. 

"  It  is  to  be  feared,  from  the  proclamation  of  the  President,  that 
he  intends  to  recognize  the  usm-pation  in  Kansas  as  the  legitimate 
government,  and  that  its  sedition  law,  the  test  oath,  and  the  means 
to  be  taken  to  expel  its  people  as  aliens,  Avill  all,  directly  or  iiulirectly, 
be  supported  by  the  army  of  the  United  States.  Your  position  will 
undoubtedly  be  difKcult;  but  you  know  I  have  great  conlidence  in 
your  firmness  and  prudence.  AVheu  the  critical  moment  arrives, 
you  must  act  for  yourself — no  man  can  give  you  counsel.  A  true 
man  will  always  tind  his  best  counsel  in  that  inspiration  which  a 
good  cause  never  fails  to  give  him  at  the  in-tant  of  trial.  All  his- 
tory teaches  us  that  great  results  are  ruled  by  a  wise  Providence, 
and  we  are  but  units  in  the  great  plan.  Your  actions  will  l)c  deter- 
mined by  events,  as  they  jjresent  themselves ;  and  at  this  distance 
T  can  only  say  that  I  sympathize  cordially  with  you,  and  that,  as 
you  stood  by  me  firmly  and  gerierously,  when  we  Avere  defeated  by 
the  nullifiers  in  California,  I  have  every  disposition  to  stand  by  you 
in  the  same  way  in  your  battle  with  them  in  Kansas. 

"  You  see  what  I  have  been  saying  is  more  a  reply  to  the  sugges- 
tions which  your  condition  makes  to  me,  tlia.i  any  answer  to  your 
letter,  which  more  particularly  regards  myself.  The  notices  which 
you  have  seen  of  me,  in  connection  with  the  Presidency,  came  from 
the  partial  disposition  of  friends  who  think  of  me  more  flatteringly 
than  I  do  of  myself,  and  do  not,  therefore  call  for  any  action  from 
us.  Repeating  that  I  am  really  and  sincerely  gratified  in  the 
renewal  of  our  friendship,  or  rather  in  the  expressions  of  it,  which 
I  hope  will  not  hereafter  have  so  long  an  interval, 

''  I  am  yours,  very  truly, 

"J.  C.  Fkemont. 
Gov.  CuAur.ES  PvOBiNso^r,  Lawrence,  Kansas." 


lONT. 

ore  congvatnla- 
<1  ill  the  ciul  to 
li.'il  sliape  ilie 
L  be  cimlik'd  to 
.'.suit.  Notliinpj 
lilt  in  the  end 
tlio  American 
f.her  von  nor  I 
nounce  upon  a 

President,  tliat 
tlie  lt.'gitiniate 
and  tlie  means 
y  or  indirectly, 
ir  position  "vvill 
,t  conlidence  in 
loment  arrives, 
tinsel.  A  true 
•aticiii  which  a 
trial.  All  his- 
se  Providence, 
)  "will  1)C  deter- 
t  tliis  distance 
11,  and  that,  as 
re  defeated  by 
3  stand  by  yon 

to  tlie  sugges- 
.nswer  to  your 

notices  which 
cy,  came  from 
ire  flatteringly 
iiy  action  from 
'atified  in  the 
IS  of  it,  which 


{EMONT. 


LETTKK   ABOUT    SLAVEKY, 


449 


In  April,  1856,  he  was  invited  to  attend  a  large  meet- 
ing in  New  York,  called  for  the  pnrpose  of  obtaining  a 
full  ox])ression  of  opinion  from  the  commercial  metro- 
polis of  the  conntry,  against  the  policy  wliich  rresident 
Pierce  was  pnrsuiiig  in  Kansas.  The  following  was  his 
brief  but  highly  acceptable  reply  : 

"New  York,  April  29,  '56, 

"  Gentlemen  :  I  have  to  thank  you  for  the  honor  of  an  invitation 
to  a  meeting  this  evening,  at  the  Broadway  Tabernacle,  and  regret 
that  other  engagements  have  interfered  to  prevent  my  being  pre- 
sent. 

"  I  heartily  concur  in  all  movements  which  have  for  their  object 
'to  repair  the  mischicts  arising  from  the  violation  of  good  faith  in 
the  repeal  (4*  tho  Mis.-i)Uii  Uoiupromise.'  1  am  oppi )>».■(]  to  slavery 
in  the  ub^iracL  ai,.i  ui.on  principle,  iu-liiinud  and  madu  habitual  by 
long  sealed  cojivietioiis. 

''  WhiJe  I  feel  inflexible  in  the  belief  that  it  ought  not  to  be  inter- 
fered with  when,'  it  exists,  under  the  shield  of  State  sovereignty,  I 
am  as  inflexildy  opposed  to  its  extension  on  this  continent  beyond 
its  present  limits. 

''  With  the  assurance  of  regard  for  yourselves,  I  am  very  resjiect- 
fully  yours, 

"J.  C.  Fkemoxt." 

Some  raontiis  previous  to  this,  Millard  Fillmore  of 
New  York,  and  Andrew  Jackson  Donelson  of  Tennes- 
see, had  been  nominated  for  the  presidency  and  vice- 
presidency  in  Philadelphia,  by  the  pro-slavery  segment 
of  a  convention  of  Know-nothings — a  name  chosen  by 
the  Native-American  party  for  themselves.  In  Jinie 
following,  James  Buchanan  of  Pennsylvania,  and  John 
C.  Breckinridge  of  Kentticky,  were  nominated  by  the 
administration  party  at  Cincinnati,  for  the  same  offices. 
Both  these  sets  of  candidates  were  identified  with  the 
slave  interest  of  the  countrv,  and  both  were  the  choice 


ii; 


450 


LIFE    AND    SKRVICKS   OF   JOHN   C.    FREMONT. 


I  rj! 


;i  'lii 


:LJli 


i  h 


W.\ 


i<ii  I 


of  the  southern  States  of  the  Union  more  particularly.  It 
w^'-  apprehended,  and  with  good  reason,  tliat  tlie  effect 
of  electing  either  would  be  to  nationalize  slavery  in  the 
United  States,  or  indetiiiitelv  extend  and  airgravate  the 
di.sorder  and  anarch}'-  which  prevailed  on  our  western 
frontier.  To  avoid  either  of  these  disastrous  results,  a 
convention  M'as  called,  of  three  delegates  from  each 
congressional  district  of  the  United  States,  and  a  pro- 
portionate number  of  senatorial  delegates,  to  meet  in 
Philadelphia  on  the  17th  of  June,  for  the  purpose  of 
nominating  candidates  for  the  presidency  and  vice- 
presidency,  who  would  properly  reflect  the  views  of 
those  who  were  prepared  to  make  freedom  in  the 
territories  the  paramount  issue  in  the  approaching 
presidential  canvass.  ^^ 

On  the  day  appointed,  the  convention  met  at  Musical 
Fund  Hall  in  that  city,  where  the  Declaration  of  the 
Independence  of  these  United  States  was  iirst  read 
and  pronnilgated.  Over  a  thousand  delegates  were  in 
attendance,  and  among  them  a  larger  number  of  promi- 
nent and  influential  public  men  than  ever  before  assem- 
bled, probably,  in  a  national  convention.  Robert  Emmet 
of  New  York  was  selected  for  temporal y  chairman,  and 
Colonel  Henry  S.  Lane  of  Indiana,  for  president  of  the 
convention.  Representatives  were  in  attendance  from 
all  the  free  States,  from  the  territories  of  Kansas, 
Nebraska,  and  Minnesota,  and  from  the  following  slave 
States  and  territories,  viz.,  Virginia,  Maryland,  Ken- 
tucky, Delaware,  and  the  District  of  Columbia. 

The  convention,  numerous  as  it  was,  and  composed  of 
men  of  every  variety  of  political  sentiment,  seemed 
animated  by  the  single  desire  to  select  the  candidate 
who  should  seem  best  calculated  to  unite  all  the  sincere 


)NT. 


NOMINATION    FOR   THE   PRKSIDENCY. 


451 


icularly.  It 
it  tlie  effect 
very  in  the 
L^mvato  the 
nil*  western 
IS  results,  a 
from  each 
and  a  p ro- 
te meet  in 
purpose  of 
and  vice- 
e  views  of 
ioin  in  the 
pp  roach  ing 

;  at  Musical 

Ltion  of  the 

,  first  read 

ies  were  in 

3r  of  promi- 

ifore  assem- 

3ert  Emmet 

lin^.iau,  and 

lent  of  the 

dance  from 

of    Kansas, 

)wing  slave 

hmd,  Ken- 

)ia. 

ouiposod  of 

lit,   seemed 

candidate 

the  sincere 


\ 


friends  of  freedom  throughout  the  Union,  in  his  sup- 
port, and  tlion<j;h  there  were  several  candidates  who  had 
many  warm  friends  in  the  convention,  the  judgment  of 
the  great  majority  settled  down  very  early  in  lavor  of 
Fremont,  as  combining  in  himself  most  of  the  requisites 
for  a  candidate  of  the  republican  party  in  the  existing 
condition  of  the  country.  On  an  infornud  ballot  he 
received  350  votes,  more  than  two-thirds  of  the  whole 
convention,  and  was  afterwards,  nominated  unani- 
mously.* 

The  lion.  William  L.  Dayton,  for  many  years  a  dis- 
tinguished member  of  the  United  States  Senate,  and 


*  The  fuUowing  was  the  result  of  the  infonuul  ballot: 

FREMONT.  MCLEAN. 

Maine, 13  11 

New  lliiinpshire,   15  — 

Vermont,    15  — 

MiissachusettH, 89  — 

Rhodclsliind, 12  — 

Connecticut, IS  — 

New  York, 93  8 

New  Jersey,    7  14 

Pennsylvania,    10  71 

Dflawiire,    • —  8 

Maiyliuul, 4  8 

Virginia, Declined  voting. 

Kontucliy, Tj  — 

Ohio, 80  89 

Indiana, 18  21 

Illinois, 14  19 

Michigan,    13  — 

Iowa, 12  — 

■Wisconsin, 15  — 

California, 12  — 

Kansas,    9  — 

District  of  Columbia, • Declined  to  vote. 

Minnesota, —  8 

Neljraska,  —  3 

Total, ;i09  I'.H' 

New  York  cast  two  votes  for  Charles  Sumner,  one  for  N.  P.  banks,  and  one  for 
Wm,  II.  Seward. 


I    : 


'?  ; 


452 


LIFK   AND   SERVICES   OF  JOHN   C.    FREMONT. 


always  a  faithful  friend  of  freedom,  was  then  nominated 
for  the  vicc-i)residcncy.  His  vote  on  the  iirst  informal 
ballot  Avas  not  quite  ii  majority,*  but  his  nomination 
was  made  unanimous  on  the  first  formal  ballot. 

The  following  declaration  of  principles  was  also 
nnanimously  adojjtcd  by  the  convention : 

THE  PLATFORM. 

'•'■  This  Convention  of  Delegates,  assembled  in  pursnance  of  a 
call,  addre.^scd  to  tlio  jx'oplo  of  the  United  States,  without  regard 
to  past  political  dillbrences  or  divisions,  who  are  opposed  to  tho 
repeal  of  the  Missouri  C()iu[)roniise;  to  tho  j)olicy  of  the  present 
administration  and  to  tlie  extension  of  slavery  into  free  territory; 
who  are  in  favor  of  the  admission  of  Kansas  as  a  free  State ;  of 

*  INFORMAL  BALLOT. 


lU 


States. 

1-5 

o 

V 

'2 

1 
;)1 

'p, 
r> 

1 

43 

'9 
9 

X 

•I. 

7{ 

X' 

3 
■/J 

1 

1 
1 

311 
2 

'l 
36 

6 

T 

6 

7 

'•J 
5 

1 
1 

1 
8 

1.5 
15 

i 

'/. 

c 
2 

2 

•/ 

.id 

"l 
1 

17 
24 

4 
46 

v. 

"<. 

C 



4 

. 

7 

c 

] 

"3 

3 

c 
'X 

u 

s 
s 

c 

0 

V. 

ta. 

_c 

b 
2 

2 

Miiiiif 

New  lliiinpsliire,    

20 
7 

'2.5 

S 

1 

1;-) 

21 

2S 

9 

C 

i;j 
1.2 

7 

1 
b 

7 

2 

"3 
'iV 

"2 

2i; 
J. 

lln 

Miis.-^aclmsjetts,  

lUiodc  I  land 

Oiiiiiiect  icut 

New  Viii'k,  

New  Jersey,    

I'eiiii-ylvania,    

Delaware,    

Maryland,    

Virginia,  

Kentucky,   

Ohio, 

Indiana, 

Illinoi-', 

Micliigan, 

Iowa,        

\Vi-e<in=in, 

Califtiniia,   

Kansa.'^,                 

.Minnesota,              

Uistrict  of  Columbia,.  .  . 

Total, 

251) 

il!" 


MONT. 

3n  nominated 

(irst  intbnnjil 

3  nomination 

illot. 

es  was    also 


piirsnnnco  of  a 
■svithout  regard 
oi)])()se(l  to  tlio 
of  the  j)resent 
free  territory ; 
free  State ;  of 


7, 

c 

is 

n 

4 

7 

1-5 

'A 
1 

o 

3 

u 

s 

c 
O 

V. 

_c 

■c 
O 

'2 
2 

: 


A 


PLATFORM  OF  THE  rillLADELPHIA  CONVENTION.      453 

restoring  tlio  action  of  tlio  Federal  Govcrnmont  to  the  principles  of 
"Washington  and  Jefferson;  and  who  purpose  to  unite  in  presenting 
candidates  for  the  offices  of  President  and  Vice-President,  do 

"1.  Rcsoli^e^  That  the  maintenance  of  tlio  principles  proninl- 
gated  in  the  Declaration  of  Indo|)endcnce  and  cnihodied  in  the  Fetj- 
eral  Constitution,  is  essential  to  the  preservation  of  our  rcpuMican 
institutions ;  and  that  the  Federal  Constitution,  the  rights  of  tho 
States,  and  the  rni(rii  of  \\w  States,  shall  he  preserved. 

"2.  liCHQlccd^  That  uilh  our  n'piihlicaii  fathers  we  hold  it  to  he  a 
self-evident  truth  that  all  men  are  endowed  with  inalienahlo  rights 
to  life,  liherty  and  the  i)ursuit  of  happiness,  and  that  the  prinniry 
object  and  ulterior  design  of  our  Federal  Government  wore  to 
secure  those  rights  to  all  persons  within  its  exclusive  jiu-isdiction  ; 
that,  as  our  republican  fathers,  when  they  had  abolished  slavery  iii 
all  our  national  territory,  ordained  that  no  person  should  l)e  do 
prived  of  life,  liberty,  or  property,  without  duo  process  of  law,  it 
becomes  our  duty  to  maintain  this  provision  of  the  Constitution 
against  all  attempts  to  violate,  for  the  purpose  of  establishing 
slavery  in  any  territory  of  the  United  States,  by  positive  legislation 
prohibiting  its  existence  or  extension  therein;  and  we  deny  tho 
authority  of  Congress,  of  a  territorial  legislature,  of  any  individti;il 
or  any  association  of  individuals,  to  givedegal  existence  to  slavery 
in  any  territory  of  tho  United  States,  while  the  present  Constitu- 
tion shall  bo  ma'ntained. 

"  3.  Resolved^  That  the  Constitution  confers  upon  Congress  sover- 
eign power  over  the  territories  of  the  United  States  for  their  govern- 
ment, and  that  in  th(^  exercise  of  this  power  it  is  both  the  right  and 
duty  of  Congress  to  prohibit  in  tho  territories,  those  twin  relics  of 
barl)arism — polygamy  and  slavery. 

"4.  Resolved^  That  while  the  Constitution  of  the  United  States 
was  ordained  and  established  by  the  people  in  order  to  'forma 
more  perfect  Union,  establish  justice,  insure  domestic  tranquillity, 
provide  for  tho  common  defence,  and  secure  the  blessings  of  Lib- 
erty,' and  contains  ample  provisions  for  the  protection  of  the  life, 
liberty  and  property  of  every  citizen,  the  dearest  constitutional 
rights  of  the  people  of  Kansas  have  been  fraudulently  and  violently 
taken  from  them ; 

"Their  territory  has  been  invaded  by  an  armed  force; 

"Spurious  and  pretended  legislative,  judicial  and  executive  offi- 


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23  WEST  MAIN  STREET 

WEBSTER,  N.Y.  14580 

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454 


LIFE   AND   SERVICES   OF  JOHN  C.   FREMONT. 


J.  II 


M 


cors  hftve  been  set  over  tliein,  by  whose  usurped  authority,  Rustnined 
l>y  tlic  military  power  of  the  {icovernment,  tyrannical  and  unconsti- 
tutional laws  have  been  enacted  anil  enforced  ; 

'  The  rights  of  the  people  to  keep  and  bear  arms  have  been 
infringed ; 

"Test  oaths,  of  an  extraordinary  and  entangling  nature,  have 
been  imposed  as  a  condition  of  exercising  the  right  of  sutfrage  and 
holding  office ; 

"The  right  of  an  accused  person  to  a  speedy  and  public  trial  by 
an  impartial  jury  has  been  denied  ; 

"The  right  of  the  people  to  be  secure  in  their  persons,  houses, 
papers,  and  effects  against  unreasonable  searches  and  seizures,  has 
been  violated ; 

"They  have  been  deprived  of  life,  liberty  and  property  without 
duo  process  of  law ; 

"  The  freedom  of  speech  and  of  the  press  has  been  abridged  ; 

"  The  right  to  choose  their  representatives  has  been  luade  of  no 
effect ; 

"Murders,  robberies,  and  arsons  have  been  instigated  and  en- 
couraged, and  the  offenders  have  been  allowed  to  go  unpunished  ; 

"That  all  these  things  have  been  done  with  the  knowledge,  sanc- 
tion, and  procurement  of  the  present  administration,  and  that  for 
this  high  crime  against  the  Constitution,  and  the  Union,  and  hu- 
manity, we  arraign  that  administration,  the  President,  his  advisers, 
agents,  supporters,  apologists,  and  accessories  either  before  or  after 
the  facts — before  the  country  and  before  the  world;  and  that  it  is 
our  fixed  purpose  to  bring  the  actual  perpetrators  of  these  atrocious 
outrages  and  their  accomplicos,  to  a  sure  and  condign  punishment. 

"5.  Resolmd^  That  Kansas  should  be  immediately  admitted  as  a 
State  of  the  Union,  with  her  present  free  Constitution,  as  at  once 
the  most  etfeciual  way  of  securing  to  her  citizens  the  enjoyment  of 
the  riglits  and  privilegas  to  which  they  are  entitled  and  of  ending 
the  civil  strife  now  raging  in  her  territory. 

"  6.  Resolved^  That  the  highwayman's  plea  that  '  might  makes 
right,'  embodied  in  the  Ostend  Circular,  was  in  every  respect  un- 
worthy of  American  diplomacy,  and  Avould  bring  shame  and  dis- 
honor upon  any  government  and  people  that  should  give  it  sanction. 

"7.  Resohed^  That  a  railroad  to  the  Pacific  Ocean,  by  the  most 
confral  and  practii^able  route,  is  imperatively  demanded  by  theintcr- 


!(■!'■ 


rr. 

ty,  sustained 
nd  uncunsti- 

■I  have  been 

lature,  liavo 
sutfrago  aud 

iblic  trial  hy- 
sons, houses, 
seizures,  has 

erty  -without 

.bridged ; 
.  liiade  of  no 

ited  and  en- 
ipunished  ; 
viedge,  sanc- 
and  that  for 
ion,  and  liu- 

lis  advisers, 
afore  or  after 
nd  that  it  is 
eso  atrocious 

)unishrncnt. 
dniittcd  as  a 
1,  as  at  once 
njoyinont  of 
id  of  ending 

night  makes 
respect  un- 
amo  and  dis- 
e  it  sanction. 
l)y  the  most 
hv  theinter- 


EErUBLICAN   PLATFORM. 


455 


ests  of  the  -whole  countr}',  and  that  the  Federal  Government  ought 
to  render  immediate  and  ethcient  aid  to  its  con-itruction,  and  as  an 
auxiliary  tliereto,  promote  tlie  immediate  construction  of  an  emi- 
grant route  on  the  Hne  of  the  railroad. 

"8.  Resolved^  That  appropriations  by  Congress  for  the  improve- 
ment of  rivers  and  harbors  of  a  national  character,  required  for  the 
accommodation  and  security  of  our  existing  commerce,  are  autho- 
rized by  the  Constitution,  and  justified  by  the  obligation  of  the  gov- 
ernment to  protect  the  lives  and  property  of  its  citizens. 

"9.  liest'lvedf  Tliat  we  invite  the  affiliation  and  co-operation  of 
men  of  all  parties,  however  ditloring  from  us  in  other  respects, 
in  support  of  the  princi[)lcs  herein  declared;  and  believing  that  the 
spirit  of  our  institutions,  as  well  as  the  Constitution  of  our  coun- 
try, guarantees  liberty  of  conscience,  and  equality  of  rights  among 
citizens,  oppose  all  legi.-lation  impairing  their  security."* 

— The  result  of  tlio  deliberations  of  the  Convention  was 
communicated  to  Col.  Fremont  bv  a  commiitee  of  the 
Convention  appointed  for  that  puipose,  in  a  letter 
which,  with  its  reply,  ran  as  follows  : 

lETTER  FROM  THE  COMMITTEE  AI'I'OINTKD  TO  APPRISE  COL.  FRE- 
MONT OF  III8  NOMINATION  FOR  THE  PRESIDENCY  BY  THE  REPUB- 
LICAN   NATIONAL   CONVENTION. 

"  PUILADKLPHIA,  JUTIO  19,  1856. 

''Sir:  A  convention  of  Delegates  assembled  at  Philadelphia  on 
the  ITtli,  18th  and  19th  dajs  of  June,  185G,  under  a  call  addressed 

*  The  following  gentlemen  composed  the  Committee  on  Resolutions  : 
Maine — Henry  Ca;  ter.  Ohio — Hon.  J.  R.  Giddings. 

New  Hampshire — D.  Clark.  Michigan — Hon.  Isaac  Chestcrey. 

Massachusetts— E.  Rock  wood  Hoar.  Wisconsin — John  F.  Potter. 


Connecticut — Hon.  G.  Wells. 
Rhode  Island — Hon.  Thos.  Davis. 
Vermont — E.  Kirkland. 
New  York — Hon.  Preston  King. 
New  Jersey— E.  W.  Whelpley. 
Delaware— E.  G.  Bradlbrd. 
Maryland — Hon.  F.  P.  Blair. 
Virginia — John  C.  Underwood. 
IVniisvlvania — Hon.  D.  Wihnot. 


Indiana — John  P.  Durfee. 
Illinois — George  S.  Brown. 
Iowa — James  B.  Holland. 
California — Hon.  John  A.  Wills. 
Kansas — John  L   Winchell. 
Dist.  of  Columbia — Jacob  Bigtlow. 
Kentucky — (ieo.  D.  Blakeley. 
Minnesota — Hon.  .Vlex.  Ramsev. 


«■ 


ISM 


mi 


m 


1*1 1 1 


.■fl 

w 


^fl  ill 


I'llM 


l/al! 


456 


LIFE   AND   SERVICES   OF  JOHN   C.    FREMONT. 


to  tlie  people  of  the  United  3tates,  without  regard  to  past  political 
diftorenccs  or  divisions,  wlio  are  opposed  to  tlie  repeal  of  the  Mis- 
souri Compromise,  to  tlio  policy  of  the  present  Adiniiiistratioii,  to 
tlie  extension  of  slavery  into  free  territory,  in  favor  of  the  admission 
of  Kansas  as  a  free  State,  and  of  restoring  tlie  action  of  the  federal 
government  to  the  principles  of  Washington  and  Jefterson,  adopted 
a  declaration  of  principles  and  purposes  for  which  they  are  united  in 
jiolitical  action — a  copy  of  which  we  have  the  honor  to  inclose — 
Mud  unanimously  licuiinated  you  as  their  candidate  for  the  oftice  of 
Trcsidcnt  of  the  United  States  at  tiie  approaching  election,  as  the 
chosen  repix'sentative  of  those  principles  in  this  important  political 
ootitest,  and  with  the  assured  conviction  that  you  would  give  them 
full  practical  oj)eration,  should  the  suffrages  of  the  people  <if  the 
Union  place  you  at  the  head  of  the  national  government. 

The  undersigned  were  directed  hy  the  Convention  to  communi- 
cate to  you  the  fact  of  your  nomination,  and  to  request  you  in  their 
name,  and  as  they  helieve,  in  the  nitmo  of  a  large  ni{\jority  of  the 
people  of  the  country,  to  accept  it. 

"  Offering  you  the  assurance  of  our  high  personal  respect^  we  are 
your  fellow-citizens, 

"H.  S.  Lane, 
"  President  of  the  Convention. 
"James  M.  Ashley,  Anthony  J.  Bleecker,  Joseph  C.  Ilornhlower, 
E.  R.  Hoar,  Thaddeus  Stevens,  Kingsley  S.  Bingham,  John  A. 
"Wills,  C.  F.  Clevelaad,  Cyrus  Aldrich. 
"  To  John  C.  Fkemont,  of  California." 

ooL.  Fremont's  reply. 

"  New  Yohk,  Juhj  8, 1S56. 
"Gentlemen:  You  call  me  to  a  high  responsibility  by  placing 
me  in  the  van  of  a  great  movement  of  the  people  of  the  United 
States,  who,  without  regard  to  past  differences,  are  uniting  in  a 
common  effort  to  bring  back  the  action  of  the  federal  government 
to  the  principles  of  "Washington  and  Jefferson.  Comprehending  the 
magnitude  of  the  trust  which  they  have  declared  themselves  willing 
to  place  in  my  hands,  and  deeply  sensible  of  the  honor  wliich  their 
unreserved  confidence,  in  this  threatening  position  of  the  public 
affairs,  implies.  I  feel  that  I  cannot  better  respond  than  by  a  sincere 
d»>clar!ition  that,  in  tlie  event  of  my  e|erti<in  to  tlie  Presidencv,  I 


:oNT. 

o  past  political 
eul  of  the  Mirt- 
iiiiiistration,  to 
f  the  admij^sion 
of  the  fcHloral 
ferson,  adopted 
>y  are  united  in 
or  to  inclose — 
or  the  office  of 
election,  as  the 
»ortant  political 
ould  jrive  them 
;  people  (»f  the 
ent. 

n  to  communi- 
sst  yon  in  their 
iniyority  of  tlie 

respect^  we  are 


!  Convention. 
D.  Ilornblower, 
gham,  John  A. 


)RK,  July  8, 1866. 
ility  by  placing 
of  the  United 
fe  uniting  in  a 
fal  government 
iprehending  the 
m selves  Avilling 
lor  which  tlicir 
,  of  the  ]>iil)lic 
lan  bv  a  sincere 
e  Presidency,  I 


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ACCEPTS    TITE   NOMINATION    FOR   THE    PRESIDENCr.     457 

shoiilil  enter  ni)on  tlic  execution  of  it>i  duties  with  a  sin^'lo-lienrted 
determination  to  ])roinote  the  trood  of  tiie  whole  coinitiy,  and  to 
direct  solely  to  this  end  all  the  power  of  the  p)verninent,  irrespec- 
tive of  party  issues  and  re^rardless  of  seetional  >trit'fs.  Tiu-  dtcl.'n.i- 
tion  of  prineink's  einhodied  in  the  re>olves  of  your  (,'oiivt'iiti(;) 
expresses  the  s».•lltinu•llt^  in  whicli  I  haw-  hren  odiieated.  and  whicit 
have  been  ripened  iUlo  convictions  by  personal  observation  and 
experience.  AVith  this  declaratim,  aii''  avowal,  1  think  it  nece>'aiy 
to  revert  to  only  two  of  the  sntgects  embraced  in  the  resolution-^, 
and  to  tliose  only  because  events  liave  surrounded  them  with  grave 
and  critical  circumstances,  and  given  to  them  esi)ecial  importance. 

''  I  Concur  in  the  views  of  the  Conventi(m  deprecating  the  foreign 
policy  to  which  it  adverts.  'J'he  assuiuiition  that  we  have  the  right 
to  take  fro!ii  another  nation  it-;  (^miains  beeaiiso  wo  want  them,  is 
an  abandonmeut  of  tiie  houe-^t  charaorL'r  v.  hicii  onr  c-nuntry  has 
ntqnircd.  Ti>  ])rovoke  hostilities  l)y  unjust  a!-;sumptions  would  bo 
to  sacrifice  the  jteace  and  character  of  tl)e  country,  when  all  its 
interests  might  be  more  certainly  secured  and  its  objects  attained 
by  just  and  healing  counsels,  involving  no  loss  of  reputation. 

''  international  embarrassments  ore  mainly  tlie  results  of  a  secret 
diplomacy,  which  aims  to  keep  from  the  knowledge  of  the  people 
the  operations  of  the  government.  This  system  is  inconsistent  with 
the  character  of  our  institutions,  and  is  itself  yielding  gradually  to 
a  more  enlightened  public  opinion,  and  to  the  power  of  a  free  press, 
which,  by  its  broad  dissemination  of  political  intelligence,  secures  in 
advance  to  the  side  of  justice,  the  judgment  of  tiie  civilized  world. 
An  lionest,  firm  and  open  policy  in  our  foreign  relations  would 
conmiand  the  united  support  of  the  nation,  whose  deliberate 
opinions  it  Avould  necessarily  reflect. 

*' Nothing  is  clearer  in  the  liistory  of  our  institution^  than  the 
design  of  the  nation  in  asserting  its  own  independence  and  freedom, 
to  avoid  giving  countenance  to  the  extension  of  slavery.  The 
influence  of  the  small  but  compact  and  powerful  clr.ss  of  men  inte- 
rested in  slavery,  who  command  one  section  of  the  country,  and 
wield  a  vast  political  control  as  a  consequence  in  the  other,  is  now- 
directed  to  turn  this  impulse  of  the  Revolution  and  reverse  its 
principles.  The  extension  of  slavery  across  the  continent  is  the 
object  of  the  power  which  now  rules  the  government ;  and  from 
this  spirit  liaa  sprung  those  kincired  w^ocg^  in  Kan3.i3  so  truly  j^or- 

20 


i 


f 


4:)8 


lATK    AND   SFRVTCKS    OF   JOHN   C.    FRF.MONT. 


W' 


It  I 


trnycd  in  nno  of  yt»tir  ivsolntioiH,  wliicli  prnvo  tluit  tlto  olomont'*  of 
t!ii'  iiiDvt  nrliitr.'irv  p)V('riiincMtM  liavo  not  licci.  viiiHini^lu'il  l>y  tlu* 
jil>f  tlu'ory  ot"  oiir  own. 

"  It  woiilil  111-  oiii  ot'  |il:i('t'  Iioro  to  i>1im1<jo  uiysi'lfto  any  particnliir 
]>oIicy  ilint  may  bi' >U}.'jjrsttMl  to  torminato  the  si'i-tionci  conlrovi-i-y 
CMifXi-ndiTod  by  political  aninio^itius,  operatinj?  on  a  poworl'.il  cIms^, 
bainlotl  toj,'etlii'r  by  a  common  intorest.  A  practical  rcnu'c'y  is  the 
n<lmis>ioii  ot"  l\.in-<;i>  into  tlic  Inioii  as  a  iVi'i-  Slate.  'IIk*  South 
hlioiild,  in  my  jdil^'nicnt,  caniolly  dt>iiv  snrli  I'oriNummation.  It 
woidd  vindicate  the  piod  tailli — it  wonld  coii-»'ct  Iht'  misiMke  oltlie 
repeal  ;  antl  tiie  North,  havini,'  practically  the  beiu'tit  of  the  aj.Mee- 
:nent  between  the  two  st'ctioiis.  wonhl  be  >ati>lied,  and  i,'o(*d  fc»lin>; 
be  restored.  'Ihe  iiu'a-nre  i^  |)erl'ecl'y  con -i.-li'iit  wiih  the  Immioi  of 
the  Si, (lib.  and  vit;  <  to  its  interests. 

"Tiiat  lalal  act.  which  ^ave  birth  to  this  pnrely  sectional  strife, 
orif^imuin^  in  the  scheme  to  t;d<e  !>•  m  'Vee  labor  the  ccnntry 
neenred  to  it  by  a  solemn  covenant  cannot  be  loo  soon  dis!irme<l  of 
its  pernicious  t'orce.  The  only  jrenial  refxion  of  the  nnddle  latitudes 
left  io  the  einijrrants  of  ihe  i.orthei'u  States  fnr  honn's,  cannot  be 
concjuered  from  the  free  lal)orers,  who  have  lonjx  c(>nsidere(l  it  as 
pet  apart  for  them  in  our  inheritance,  %>ithout  provokin};  a  despe- 
rate strUL'i,'le.  Whatever  may  be  the  persistence  of  the  jiarticnlar 
class  which  seeni>  ready  to  hazard  everything  lor  the  success  (»f  the 
unjust  scheme  it  has  partially  elfected,  1  lirmly  believe  that  the 
great  heart  of  the  nation,  which  tlirol»s  wiili  th(>  i)atriolisin  of  the 
freemen  of  both  sectio'>,  will  have  power  to  ovt'nome  it.  They 
will  locdv  to  the  rights  secured  to  them  by  the  C'onstiiution  of  the 
Union  as  their  best  safeguard  from  the  oppression  of  the  (dass, 
which,  by  a  nionoptdy  of  the  soil  and  of  slave-labor  to  till  it,  might 
in  time  reduce  them  to  the  extremity  of  laboring  upon  the  same 
terms  with  the  slaves.  The  great  body  of  non-slavelndding  free- 
men, including  those  of  the  South,  upon  who-e  will'are  -slavery  is 
an  oppression,  .vill  discover  that  the  power  of  the  general  govern- 
ment »>ver  the  public  lands  niav  be  beneticiallv  exerted  to  a<ivanco 
their  interests  and  secure  their  independence.  Knowing  this,  their 
suflTiages  will  not  be  wai\  <r  to  maintain  that  authority  in  the 
Union  which  is  absolutely  e  ....tial  to  the  maiu'eiianee  of  their  own 
liberties,  and  whieh  has  mot  nan  once  indicated  the  pUi'i>ose  of 
disposing  of  the  public  land  in  such  a  Avay  as  would  make  every 
settler  upon  them  a  freeholder. 


NT. 

»  olomont««  of 
ii>lH'(l    l>y  tin* 

wy  piirliciiliir 
I  coiitruvi'isy 
wi'rr.il  cIms^, 
•iiit'i'v  is  tlio 
TIk-  .South 
niiixtinii.  It 
lisi.'ike  ul"  tliL! 
i»r  till'  !i)_'r»'e- 
iXi»,{]  I't'i'liii;; 
till'  liciiia  'li' 

tioiinl  strit»% 

till'  (clllitl'V 
<!i.s!iriiio(l  dI" 
Idle  liititii(k>:4 
■s,  cniiiiot  he 
s'kKmtiI  it  iis 
iiif:  a  (li'spo 
ic  iiarliful;ir 
it'ivs;*  of  the 
've  that  the 
olisiii  ot"  tho 
10  it.  Tlii'y 
iition  of  tho 
>f  the  class, 
till  it,  iiii^ht 
)ii  the  saino 
(tiding  frce- 
'e  ■'lavefv  is 
?ral  ptvern- 

to  advaiico 
g  this,  their 
t>rit.v  in  the 
>f  their  own 

pii/pose  of 
make  evei-y 


"  LICTTER   TO   THE   NATIONAL   AME11ICAN9." 


450 


"If  tho  |)ooi»lc  InlruHt  to  inc  tlio  ndmitiistration  of  the  govern- 
ment, the  laws  of  Con^rfesH  in  relation  to  the  territories  will  hi* 
faifhfidl\  execiitiMl.  All  its  authority  will  he  exerted  in  aid  of  the 
national  will  to  re-estahlish  the  pe/iee  <tf  the  eoiintry  on  the  jiist, 
priiieipli's  which  have  heretofore  n'ceived  the  sanction  <>t  the  federal 

govelllliient.  of  the  Slate,>.,  Mild  of  'lie  people  of  hulli  seelinMs.  SlK'll 
u  policy  would  leave  no  aliiiuiit  to  tliai  -n  iioiuil  p)iil_\  which  se»  k>. 
its  aj-';j;r!iiidi/i  iiMiit  hy  appropriating'  the  new  teiiilorie>  to  eapilal 
in  the  loi-pi  of  slavery,  hut  would  inevitahly  nsnh  in  the  triiunpli 
of  free  lahor — the  natural  cai'itMl  which  constitutes  t!ie  real  wejilth 
of  this  frreat  country,  and  creates  that  intelli^reiit  power  in  tliu 
Tiiasses  idoiie  to  he  relied  on  as  the  hulwark  of  free  in-iitiiiioiis. 

Triistitijr  that  I  Imve  a  heart  (^apal)le  of  coinprehendin^^  our  whole 
country,  with  its  varie<l  interests,  ami  ('onfident  that  patriotism 
exists  in  all  parts  of  the  Union,  I  accept  the  nomination  of  your 
Convention,  in  the  hope  that  I  may  he  (Miahled  to  serve  usefidly  its 
cause,  which  I  cotisider  the  cause  of  con^titi'tion;il  freedom. 
'^  Very  respectfully,  your  ohedient  servant, 

'M.  C.  Frkmont. 

*' To  Messrs.  IT.  S.  Lane,  President  of  tho  Convention  ;  .lames  M 
Ashley,  Anthony  J.  IJleecker,  Joseph  C.  Ilornhlower,  E.  R 
Hoar,  Thaddeus  Stevens,  Kiiif^sley  8.  l>inf,diain,  .John  A.  Wills, 
C.  F.  Cleveland,  Cyrus  Aldrieh,  Committee,  I'tc." 

Soon  after  the  iioiiiiuations  wci-e  iiuide  in  Pliiljidel- 
pliia,  a  "  IS'atioiiiil  American  "  coiivetition,  tlicti  in  8es- 
BJon  in  New  York,  tendered  tlie  support  of  thai  party 
also  to  Colonel  Fremont,  who  acknowledged  the  letter 
arwiouiicing  their  determhiation  in  the  following  terms: 

"New  York,  June  80,  1S56. 
"  Gextlkmikn :  I  received  with  deep  sensibility  your  comniunica- 
tion,  informing  me  that  a  convention  of  my  fellow-citizens,  recently 
assembled  in  this  city,  have  nominated  me  their  candidate  for  the 
liijrhest  office  in  the  gift  of  the  American  People;  and  I  desire, 
throufrh  you,  to  ofler  to  the  members  of  that  body,  and  to  their 
respective  constituencies,  my  grateful  acknowledgment  for  this  dis- 
tinguished expression  of  contidence.  In  common  with  all  who  are 
intcresicd  iu  the  welfare  of  the  country,   I   liad  been  strongly 


f 


mm 


:  , 


^r 


P  u 


,'■'  1 


i\ 


I!  ill  I  I'll 

'i:    111 


m       f 

I     ^ 


460 


LIFE   AND    SERVICES   OF  JOHN   C.    FREMONT. 


iinprcpfied  by  the  ponorous  spirit  of  concilintion  wliicli  iiifluenceJ 
tilt'  notion  ofyonr  usM'iubly  uiid  cliaructeiizes  your  note.  A  dispo- 
sitiitn  to  avoid  nil  special  (piestions  tending  to  delt'at  uiiatiiniity  in 
the  frreat  (;aiiso,  tor  the  sake  of  whieh  it  was  coiu'ecU'd  t'lat  ditfer- 
erices  of  opinion  on  lens  eventful  (piestions  should  ho  held  in  abey- 
ance, was  evinced  alike  in  the  proceevlings  of  your  convention  in 
reference  to  nie,  and  in  the  manner  by  which  you  hav<  conununi- 
cated  the  result.  In  this  course,  no  sacrltice  of  o])inion  on  any  side 
becomes  necessary. 

*'  I  shall,  in  a  few  days,  be  able  to  transmit  j'ou  a  paper,*  designed 
for  all  parties  engaged  in  our  cause,  in  which  I  present  to  the  coun- 
try my  views  of  the  leading  subjects  which  are  now  put  in  issue  in 
the  contest  for  the  presidency.  My  conlidence  in  the  success  of  our 
cause  is  greatly  strengthened  by  the  belief  that  these  views  will 
meet  the  aj)probatlon  of  your  constituents. 

''Trusting  that  tiie  national  and  patriotic  feelings  evinced  by  the 
tender  of  your  co-operation  in  the  work  of  regenerating  the  govern- 
ment, may  increase  the  glow  of  onthusia>in  which  ])orvade3  the 
country,  and  hanuoiii/e  all  ele!Meni>  in  tiur  truly  great  and  common 
cause,  I  accept  the  nomination  with  which  you  have  honored  nie, 
uud  am,  genilenien,  very  respectfully, 

"  Your  fellow-citizen, 

"J.  C.  Fremont." 
Messrs.   Thomas   II.   Ford,   Ambrose    Stephens,   W.  A.    Howard, 

Ste[)hen   M.  Allen,  Simon  P.  Kase,  Thomas  Shankland,  J.  E. 

Dunham,  M.  C.  Geer — a  Committee  of  the  National  American 

party. 

Since  his  nomination,  more  than  half  of  the  political 
journals  of  the  free  States  have  advocated  his  election, 
and  public  meetings  throuo;hout  the  country  indicate  a 
degree  of  enthusiasm  in  his  support  which,  taking  all 
the  circumstances  into  consideration,  is  without  a  paral- 
lel in  the  history  of  American  politics.  His  friends 
confidently  predict  his  election  by  a  nearly  unanimous 
vote  of  the  free  States,  and  the  developments  of  each 
Bucceeding  day  render  them  more  and  more  sanguine. 

*  Letter  cf  July  f:,  p.  •Jl.'ii'.  t^  scff. 


T. 


CONCLUSION. 


461 


I  infliicnceJ 
.  A  (lisj)o- 
iiatiiiiiity  in 

tliat  (litler- 
jld  ill  ubcy- 
ii'vention  in 

coniniiitii- 
i>n  uny  si  do 

■,*  designed 
I)  the  conn- 
in  issue  in 
jcess  (tf  our 
views  will 

ced  by  tlie 
he  govern- 
rvtides  tlie 
id  coinnion 
•nored  me, 


RMONT." 

.    Howard, 

md,  J.  E. 

American 


political 
election, 
idicate  a 
iking  all 

a  paral- 
1  friends 
laniinons 

of  each 
iguine. 


CnAPTER   XIX. 


CONCLUSION. 


Col.  Fremont  is  now  but  foi*ty-three  years  of  a^e. 
Though  in  the  prime  of  life,  he  is  ahvady  eminent. 
Before  he  was  thirty  he  liad  enrolled  his  name  among 
the  most  eminent  explorers  and  geograi)hers,  and  had 
given  it  to  tlie  rivers  and  the  mountains  and  the  pro- 
ductions of  the  soil,  which  he  was  the  liist  to  ex})lore. 
Before  he  was  thirty-live,  he  had  emancipated  an  empire 
from  Mexican  tyranny,  and  was  unanimously  elected  its 
governor  by  those  whom  he  had  delivered.  When  but 
thirty-seven,  he  was  elected  to  the  highest  legisla- 
tive dignity  in  the  American  republic;  and  within  the 
last  year,  his  earlier  distinctions  have  been  thrown  into 
comparative  obscurity  by  his  selection  as  the  national 
champion  of  freedoi^i  and  civilization  in  the  approaching 
Presidential  election.  Ilia  nomination  at  Philadelphia 
on  the  19th  of  June,  gave  symmetry  and  completeness 
to  a  career  which  is  more  commended  by  its  results  to 
the  American  i)eople  than  that  of  any  man,  at  his  years, 
whom  the  counny  has  produced. 

Col.  Frtmont  is  about  live  feet  nine  inclies  high,  slight 
and  sinewy  in  his  structure,  but  gracefully  proportioned 
and  eminently  prepossessing  in  his  personal  appearance. 
His  eyes  are  blue  and  very  large,  his  nose  aquiline,  his 


ill 


!  -i 


1 


r 


462 


LITE   AND   8ERVICK8   OF  JOHN   0.    FREMONT. 


fnrelicnd,  over  wln'oli  liiw  brown  curlin2;  hair  is  parted  at 
tlie  centre,  is  lii^li  and  (•apacionH.  lie  never  sliaves,  but 
wears  liis  bfard  neatlv  triintned. 

Ills  lu'ad  as  well  as  person  are  Btrikin<];ly  symmetrical, 
and  indicate  the  eomj)act  Htrenu^fli  and  Kynimetry  of 
cliaractcr  which  ho  lias  displayed  through  life.  Tho 
lieiglit  of  his  head  above  the  eai*s  also  reveals  the  ele- 
vation of  his  sentiments  and  the  general  benevolence 
and  ])urity  of  his  nature. 

Scarcely  any  trait  of  hif  character  will  impress  a 
stranger  sooner  than  his  modosty.  lie  never  dwells 
upon  Ids  own  achievements,  and  rarely  alludes  to  them 
except  when  specially  invited.  Even  in  his  reports,  his 
own  ]>ersomility  is  as  much  concealed  as  it  could  be 
without  making  them  unintelligible,  lie  has  a  soft, 
clear  and  gentle  voice,  and  in  conversation  s])eaks 
deliberately,  but  with  the  utmost  precision  and  clear- 
ness, lie  always  knows  exactly  what  ho  means  to  say 
when  he  begins  a  sentence,  and  rarely  if  ever  changes 
or  repeats  a  word  in  the  enunciation  of  it.  His  mind  is 
eminently  orderly  and  logical,  and  though  without  any 
propensity  for  metaphysical  speculations,  his  faculties  of 
induction  are  very  sujjerior.  Like  Washington,  whom 
be  resembles  iu  many  oiher  respects,  lie  generalizes 
with  rapidity,  but  always  for  practical  results,  and  rarely 
or  never  to  test  hypotheses. 

His  accomplishments  are  manifold.  Of  course  he 
understands  surveying  and  engineering  ;  his  reports  dis- 
play a  familiarity  with  the  sciences  of  Astronomy, 
Botany,  Mineralogy  and  Geology,  lie  was  distinguished 
at  school,  Dr.  Roberton  tells  us,  for  his  knowledge  of 
the  Latin  and  Greek  languages,  besides  which  he  speaks 
French  and  Spanish  as  fluently  as  English.    It  is  not  too 


r. 


coNcrxsioN. 


4C3 


parted  at 
I  uvea,  but 

imetrical, 
motry  of 
it'e.  'TIio 
Ih  the  clo- 
levolence 

Imprees  a 
or  il wells 
iS  to  tlietn 
'ports,  Ills 
coil  111  be 
as  a  sot't, 
)n  sj)eak8 
md  clear- 
ins  to  say 
['  changes 
is  mind  is 
thout  any 
iculries  of 
on,  whom 
;eneralize9 
and  rarely 

course  he 
eports  dis- 
stronomy, 
tingnished 
wledge  of 
he  speaks 
;  is  not  too 


much  to  say  that  wo  have  had  no  President  since  the 
tiitie  ot'  Jetfiir-<f»n  wlw»  could  ai»pear  to  efpnil  a<lvim- 
tngo,  or  lill  so  exalted  a  seat,  in  the  literary  or  scieniilic 
circles  ot"  his  generation. 

In  his  manners  he  is  eminently  well  bred  and  refined, 
ai»(l  always  prepossesses  a  new  actjuaintance  in  his  favor. 
He  is  sensitive  to  anything  allecting  his  character,  but 
tilow  to  take  otl'ence,  or  to  suspect  the  moiives  of  men. 
He  has  twice  in  his  life  appealed  to  what  is  termed  the 
code  of  honor,  but  never  for  the  redress  of  merely  pi-r- 
soiud  wrongs.  In  both  instance-*,  the  particulars  of 
which  are  recorded  in  the  foregoing  p.ige-^,  he  was  tiio 
victim  of  a  combination  formed  to  break  down  a  party 
and  principles  of  which  he  happened  to  occu})y  the 
position  of  a  protector.  In  the  affair  with  Senator  Foote, 
he  represented  the  ])arty  of  freedom  iii  California,  and 
as  the  son-in-law  of  Col.  Benton,  was  a  very  suitable 
target  for  the  archery  of  that  class  of  p  ►iiricians  who 
ht.d  felt  that  the  best,  if  not  the  oidy  way  of  securing 
an  immunity  for  their  own  inischievous  designs,  was  to 
drive  that  fearless  statesman  from  the  Senate,  and  if  pos- 
sible, from  public  life.  Had  Col.  Fremont  tolerated  the 
lirst  insult,  it  wouhl  have  been  repeated  witli  aggrava- 
tions in  twenty-four  hours.  He  saw  that  his  usefulness  lu 
a  senator,  and  his  intlueiiee  as  a  public  man  depended 
upon  his  putting  an  end  at  once  t'>  the  inipression,  if  it 
existed  in  any  qmirter,  that  his  character  could  bo 
trilled  with  by  any  one.  For  such  a  purpose  he  was 
williiig  to  risk  his  life. 

In  the  case  of  Mason,  he  thought  he  saw  a  disposition 
to  sacritice  him  for  having  ]}iesumed  to  win  sudden  dis- 
tinction in  the  army  by  unusual  services,  without  the 
aid  of  a  diploma  from  West  Point.     In  five  years  he 


464 


LIFE   AND   SERVICES    OF   JOHN    C.    FREMONT. 


I.   ■  M 


!li! 


had  risen  to  the  rank  of  lieutenant-colonel  in  the  army, 
over  tlie  heads  of  hundreds  of  otHoei's  who  had  enjoyed 
better  opportunities  than  lie  of  doing  what  he  had  done, 
bnt  who  lacked  the  necessary  ahility,  or  ambition. 

When  Col.  Fremont  detected  this  jealousy,  and  felt 
th.e  indignities  which  were  the  fruit  of  it,  he  suddenly 
found  himseU'  the  representative  and  cliampion  of  the 
small  but  valuable  class  of  men  who,  by  extraordinary 
devotion  to  their  profession,  provoke  tiie  onvy  of  the 
Lirger  and  meaner  class  who  are  uiuvilling  to  make 
similar  exertions  or  sacriHces.  If  he  had  submitted  to 
Mason's  insolence,  patiently,  he  would  have  proved 
recreant  to  the  class  of  which  he  was  the  exponent,  and 
have  forsaken  the  liigh  position  he  had  secured, 
and  widch,  by  the  course  he  pursued,  he  not  only 
maintained,  but  entrenched  impregnably.  Had  he 
yielded,  lie  would  nev^er  have  received  the  compliment 
soon  afterwards  paid  him  by  President  Taylor,  and 
wliich  he  properly  interpreted  as  a  deliberate  justifica- 
tion of  his  conduct,  from  the  highest  military  as  well  as 
civil  authority  in  the  country.  Except  in  cases  wliere 
the  rights  and  interests  of  others  were,  to  some  extent,  in 
his  keeping.  Col.  Fremont  has  never  appealed  to  the 
code  of  honor  for  the  redress  of  personal  wrongs. 

His  domestic  tastes  are  very  decided,  and  he  has  a 
rooted  aversion  to  the  ordinary  metropolitan  gaieties. 
He  is  extremely  temperate  in  his  habits,  though  he 
makes  no  merit  of  it,  and  does  not  use  tobacco  in  any 
form,  nor  profane  language;  three  peculiarities  which 
distinguish   him   honorably  from   most   of   our  public 


men. 


In  all  the  manifold  relations  of  father,  husband,  friend 
and  neighbor,  his  character  is  unimpeached  and  uniin- 


t4 


)NT. 


RELIGION. 


4G5 


L  the  army, 
ad  enjoyed 
3  had  done, 
)ition. 
sy,  a!ul  felt 
le  suddeidy 
pi  on  of  the 
traordinary 
nvy  of  the 
r  to  make 
ibmitted  to 
Lve  proved 
)onent,  and 
d  secured, 
e  not  only 
Had  he 
lomplitnent 
Cay  I  or,  and 
te  jiistilica- 
f  as  well  as 
jases  where 
e  extent,  in 
uled  to  the 
rongs. 

d  he  has  a 
an  gaieties. 

though  he 
icco  in  any 
[•ities  which 

our   public 

band,  friend 
1  and  unim- 


peachable. He  was  confirmed  as  a  member  of  tlie  Protes- 
tant Episcopal  churcli  in  Charleston,  when  lie  was  sixteen 
years  of  age,  and  at  a  time  wher.  he  was  under  very  pro- 
found religious  convictions.  lie  became  so  mucii  absorbed 
by  the  subject  of  religion  at  this  time,  as  to  inspire  his 
friends  with  a  general  expectation  that  he  would  devote 
hinib  If  to  the  ministry.  He  used  to  studv  and  commit 
chapter  after  chapter  of  the  Bible  to  memory — some- 
times as  many  as  three  hundred  verses  a  day — and 
fatigued  his  instructors  with  the  length  of  his  biblical 
recitations.  Upon  leaving  Charleston  and  embarking 
in  the  career  which  has  occupied  his  adult  life,  he  has 
rarely  enjoyed  the  privilege  of  worshipping  in  a  Chris- 
tian country.  He  has  had  all  his  children,  however, 
baptized  in  the  Episcopal  church,  and  since  his  retu'n 
to  the  United  States,  has  been  in  the  habit  of  at'.endinir 
the  churches  of  that  denomination. 

As  a  candidate  for  the  presidency.  Col.  Fremont 
enjoys  some  rare  advantages  over  any  competitor  for 
that  honor,  for  he  is  not  identified  with  any  old  political 
controversies,  except  the  one  which  constitutes  the  con- 
trolling issue  in  the  present  canvass.  Though  a  demo- 
crat fi-om  principle,  and  by  political  association,  he  has 
never  been  a  partisan,  and  though  always  opposed  to 
the  extension  of  slavery,  his  name  has  never  been  asso- 
ciated with  any  of  the  lateral  issues  to  which  that  insti- 
tution has  given  rise.  Though  never  a  politician,  and 
with  but  little  experience  as  a  statesman,  no  man  of  his 
age  was  so  universally,  and,  at  the  same  time,  so  favor- 
ably known  to  the  wliole  country,  when  his  name  was 
suggested  as  the  leader  of  the  party  of  freedom.  His 
adventures  and  discoveries  had  been  the  theme  of  con- 
versation and  of  inexhaustible  wonder  in  every  villap-e 


40^5 


LIFE   AND    SERVICES    OF  JOHN    C.    FRFMONT. 


and  hamlet  tlironghont  the  Union,  and  "  none  named 
him  but  to  praise."  He  was  not  therefore,  an  unknown 
man  in  ''•  y  part  of  his  country,  though  he  had. pro- 
bably never  attended  a  political  caucus  in  his  life. 

But  lie  has  other  qualities  which  specially  commend 
him  to  his  countrymen  at  the  present  time;  a  courage 
which  renders  him  insensible  to  any  form  of  intimida- 
tion, and  a  coolness  and  caution  which  are  equally 
important  guaranties  against  impetuosity  and  indis- 
cretion. If  he  is  elected,  no  one  supposes  that  he  will  be 
afraid  to  act  according  to  his  inclinations  or  convictions, 
and  every  one  feels  that  we  have  long  stood  imich  in  need 
of  such  a  President.  The  country  is  rapidly  approach- 
ing a  crisis  when  the  civilization  of  half  a  century  will 
be  staked  upon  the  firmmess,  wisdom  and  justice  of  our 
chief  magistrate.  Fremont  is  looked  upon  by  the  great 
body  of  his  countrymen  in  the  free  States,  as  the  fittest 
e  ponent  of  the  highest  and  best  interests  of  civiliza- 
tion that  has  been  named  in  connection  with  the  presi- 
dency for  many  years.  He  is  identiiied  in  their  minds 
witii  the  great  struggle  for  freedom  on  this  continent, 
and  upon  his  success  or  failure,  the  hopes  of  many,  for  the 
future  of  this  republic,  are  suspended. 


!|';l;l! 


I',:! 


\r. 


le  named 
unknown 
had.  pro- 
lite. 

commend 
a  courage 
'  inti  mi  (hi- 
re equally 
and   indis- 
lie  will  be 
onvictions, 
ich  in  need 
approacli- 
jntury  will 
tice  of  our 
Y  ihe  great 
;  the  fittest 
of  civiliza- 
the  presi- 
heir  minds 
continent, 
my,  for  the 


4 


APPENDIX. 


[A] 


RErORT  OF  SENATOR  BREESE,  OF  ILLINOIS. 


UNITED    STATES    SENATE,    AUGUST 


1,    1848. 


T^e  Select  Committee,  to  whom  was  referred  the  resolution  of  the 
Senate  to  inquire  into  the  expediency  of  proriding  for  the  publico' 
tion  of  the  result  of  the  late  Exploring  Expedition  of  John.  C. 
Fremont  to  California  and  Oregon,  to  he  published  as  a  national 
work,  free  from  copyright,  and  subject  to  the  disposition  of  Con- 
gress ;  and  also  to  inquire  into  the  expediency  of  providing  for  the 
continuation  and  completion  of  the  Surveys  and  Explorations  of 
the  said  John  C.  Fremont,  with  a  view  to  detelope  the  geographical 
character  of  the  country,  and  the  practicability  of  establishing 
railroads  or  other  communications  between  the  Valley  of  the 
Mississippi  and  the  Pacific  Ocean,  the  result  of  said  farther  Sur- 
veys  and  Explorations  to  be  also  published  as  a  national  work, 
free  from  copyright,  and  subject  to  the  disposition  of  Congress 
respectfully  ask  leave  to  report: 

That  It  .'o  a  matter  of  great  public  interest,  the  committee 
believe,  for  the  government  and  for  the  people  of  the  United 
States  to  become  accurately  acquainted  with  the  value  of  the 
large  possessions,  now  belonging  to  the  United  States,  beyond 
the  Rocky  Mountains,  and  also  with  the  means  of  oomiiuini- 
catlng  with  those  possessions  and  with  the  Pacitic  Ocean,  on 
which  they  border,  by  railroads  or  other  modes  of  travel  and 
conveyance ;  and  the  committee  believe,  from  the  knowledgt 

467 


468 


I-TI  F.    AND    RERVICF8    OF   .TOFIN    C.    FREMONT. 


they  have  of  the  inclination  of  Mr,  Fremont's  mind,  his  habit* 
and  pursuits,  and  iiis  already  qrea,  acquaintance  with  the  coun- 
tries in  question,  acquired  throu^^h  extraordinary  perseverance, 
to  be  peculiarly  well  litted  to  give  to  the  government  and  to  tlie 
peojjle  tlie  information  it  is  so  desirable  for  them  to  possess  in 
relation  to  the  value  of  California  and  Oregon,  and  the  means  of 
communicating  with  them. 

From  the  early  age  of  seventeen,  as  the  committee  are 
informed,  Mr.  Fremont  has  been  ahnost  constantly  engaged  in 
astronomical  and  geographical  pursuits,  and  nearly  the  whole 
time  in  the  ojien  field,  and  the  last  six  years  in  the  country 
beyond  the  Mississippi  and  the  Rocky  Mountains.  lie  has  made 
tliree  expeditions  to  those  remote  and  interesting  regions.  The 
results  of  the  two  liist  were  publislied  by  order  of  Congress,  and 
commanded  general  applauGe  botli  in  this  country  and  in  Europe. 
The  celebrated  Baron  Humboldt,  and  tiie  President  of  the  Royal 
Geological  and  Royal  Geographical  Societies,  London,  liave  spoken 
of  them  in  most  favorable  tei-ms,  and  eminent  scientific;  men  and 
journals  of  our  own  country  have  yielded  equal  commendation. 
(See  appendix  to  this  report.)  An  assistant  of  the  celebrated 
Nicollet  who  was  a  distinguished  member  of  the  French  National 
Institute,  he  has  reached  a  most  commanding  position  as  a  scien- 
tific explorer,  and  achieved  for  himself  the  designation  of  the 
American  Humboldt. 

The  first  question  with  the  committee  was  to  inquire  into  the 
expediency  of  publishing,  as  a  national  work  free  of  coj^yright, 
and  subject  to  the  disposition  of  Congress,  the  results  of  this  last 
or  third  expedition  of  Mr.  Fremont;  and,  although  favorably 
impressed  with  the  value  of  these  results,  from  the  pi-ovious 
labors  and  character  of  the  author,  it  was  deemed  proper  to 
inquire  into  the  real  character  of  the  proposed  publication, 
means  for  forming  some  judgment  on  this  point  being  already  at 
hand  in  the  manuscript  map  of  Oregon  and  California,  (now  in 
the  hands  of  the  lithographer,  and  which  several  of  the  com- 
mitt««  have  eramined),  and  also  in  thrv  ^geographical  memoiv  to 


i  •'; Fii'ii 


RFrORT   or   SENATOR   BREE8K. 


4np 


r. 

^is  habit* 
li  the  conn- 
srseverance, 
•  and  to  tlie 
>  y)ORpesa  in 
he  means  of 

nmittee   are 
;  engaged  in 
ly  the  wiiolo 
\he   coiintry 
He  has  made 
■cgions.     "1  he 
Congress,  and 
md  in  Europe, 
t  of  the  Royal 
.n,  have  spoken 
ntific  men  and 
lommendation. 
the  celebvati'd 
rench  National 
ition  as  a  scien- 
o-nation  of  the 

inquire  into  the 
!e  of  coin-riglit, 
,ults  of  this  last 
loiigh  favorably 
,in  "Ihe  previous 
emed  proper  to 
^(mI    publicatiop. 
being  already  at 
ilifornia,  (now  in 
ral  of  the  com- 
)hicftl  memoiv  to 


illustrate  that  map,  published  by  order  of  the  Senate,  and  which, 
it  is  presumed,  all  have  read.     This  map  and   memoir,  in   the 
judgment  of  the  committee,  not  only  sustain  the  previous  repu- 
tation of  the  author,  but  enhance  it,  as  might  well  be  expec'.ed 
from  a  moie  ripened  intellect,  from  a  more  experienced  explorer 
and  from  a  spirit  ardent  in  the  pursuit  of  science,  and  excited 
by  applause  to  higher  exertions.   This  map  .and  memoir,  though 
hastily  prepared,  and  as  a  mere   preliminary  to   a  full  woik. 
increase  the  reputation  of  their  author,  and  give  valuable  infor- 
mation to  the  statesman  and  the  farmer,  to  the  astronomer  j.ud 
geographer,  to  the  man  of  science  in  the  walks  of  botany  and 
meteorology.     ]5ut  they  must  be  regarded  only  as  a  sample  of 
the  results  of  that  expedition,  from  the  view  of  which  the  value 
of  the  whole  may  be  judged.     As  far  as  the  exploration  has  been 
carried,  everything  necessary  to  show  climate,  soil,  and  proil no- 
tions, has  been  collected.     More  than  one  thousand  specimens  in 
botany,  a  great  number  in  geology  and  mineralogy,  with  draw- 
ings of  birds  and  animals,  and  remarkable  scenery,  and  a  large 
collection  of  the  skins  of  birds,  wiih   the  plumage  preserve), 
have  been,  as  the  committee  are  informed,  brought  home,  to 
enrich  the  stores  and  add  to  the  sum   of  human   knowledge. 
The  botanical  specimens,  examined  by  Dr.  Torrey,  are  deemed 
by  him  of  great  value,  and  worthy  of  the  expense  of  European 
engraving,  if  not  done  by  our  own  government. 

The  committee  upon  this  view  of  the  results  of  the  last 
expedition  of  Mr.  Fremont,  deem  them  of  great  national 
importance,  giving  just  ideas  of  Oregon  and  California,  and 
such  as  ought  to  be  published  in  the  manner  suggested 
in  the  resoh»'.ion  under  consideration.  The  continuation  of 
the  surveys  and  explorations  by  Mr,  Fremont,  with  a  view  to 
complete  our  knowledge  of  the  great  country  between  the 
Mississippi  and  the  Pacitic  ocean,  is  the  remaining  inquiry 
referred  to  this  comujittee;  and  of  tlie  expediency  of  providing 
for  such  continuation  they  entertain  no  doubt.  It  is,  in  their 
judgment,  but  carrying  out  the  plain  suggestion  of  reason,  and 


h.:i 


470 


LIFE    AND   SERVICES   OF  JOHN    0.    FREMONT. 


t>i   ■'  I 


the  plan  of  Mr.  Jefferson,  when  he  sent  Lewis  and  Clark  to  th 
Pacilic  ocean. 

The  committee  think  they  do  not  err  when  they  assume  it  as 
an  indisputable  position,  that  the  public  interest  and  ilie  wisiies 
of  the  people  require  further  examinations  into  the  character  of 
the  soil,  climaib  and  productions ;    the  geology,   botany,   and 
mineralogy  of  Oregon  and  California;  and  also  into  the  prac- 
ticability of  railroad  and  other  communications  between  those 
countries  and  the  valley  of  the  Mississippi,  to  which  the  public 
attention  has  been  lately,  and  is  now,  so  much  excited,  and  they 
do  not  hesitate  to  say,  that  Mr.  Fremont  is  one  of  the  most,  if  not 
the  most,   suitable  person  to  make  these  examinations,  and   a 
publication  of  the  results,  under  the  direction  of  Congress,  and 
without  copyright,  as  the  most  judicious  and  advantageous  mode 
of  publication.     Mr.  Fremont  has  spent  six  years  of  his  litie  in 
explorations    to  these  distant    regions,    and    in    that   time   has 
crossed  the  Kocky  Mountains,  as  the  committee  are  informed, 
at  seven  different  points ;  has  traversed  the  country  from  the 
Mississippi  on  several  different  lines,  and  has  made  about  twenty 
thousand  nnles  of  exploration  in  wilderness  countries,  and  under- 
stands thoroughly,  there  is  no  doubt,  the  general  structure  and 
configuration  of  the  country,  and  knows  wliere  to  go  and  what 
to  do  to  complete  his  examinations.     He  has  shown  himself  tc 
be  possessed  of  all  the  qualitications  for  such  an  enterprise,  wit! 
resources  to  siijtjiiy  \\aiits,  lo  conijUiM'  dilliciiltiHS,  aii.l   to  com! 
mand  succtess — and  talent  to  execute  his  task  to  the  satisfactioij 
and  admiration  of  his  own  countrymen,  and  of  the  first  men  ij 
Europe. 

The  committee  learn  with  pleasure  that  it  is  Mr.  Fremont! 
own  desire  to  finish  up  the  great  work  in  which  he  was 
unexpectedly  interrupted  in  the  course  of  the  last  year, 
other  person  probably  could,  for  the  reasons  stated,  do  the  woj 
60  well,  or  in  so  short  a  time,  or  at  so  small  an  expense, 
other  person  could  be  employed  in  the  work  without  appropn 
ting  to  himself  the  fruits  of  his  long  and  arduous  labors, 


MONT. 


REPORT,   ETC. 


471 


d  Clavk  to  til 

ey  assume  it  as 
land  lUe  wishes 
the  character  ot 
cry,  botany,  and 
io  into  the  pvac- 
[is  between  those 
which  the  public 
excited,  and  they 
of  the  most,  if  not 
uuinations,  and   a 
1  of  Congress,  and 
idvantageous  mode 
veavs  of  l^is  life  m 
'in    that   time   has 
,iuee  are  inforoQcd, 
J  country  from  the 
made  about  twenty 
ountries,  and  under- 
eneral  structure  and 
lere  to  go  and  what 
ias  shosvn  himselt  to 

h  an  enterprise,  with 

isk  to  the  satisfaction 
[  of  the  first  men  m 

it  is  Mr.  Fremont's 
in  which  he  was  so 
,f  the  last  year.     J^o 
,s  stated,  do  the  work 
nail  an  expense,     ^o 
lork  without  appropna- 
d  arduous  labors,  and 


building  upon  foundations  which  he  has  laid,  and  taking  the 
credit  of  operations  which  only  want  the  finishing  hand  of  their 
author  to  erect  a  monument  of  honor  to  himself  and  of  utility  to 
his  country.  It  therefore  seems  but  an  act  of  justice  to  this 
individual  that  he  should  be  continued  in  a  work  which  lie 
commenced,  and  has  thus  far  so  successfully  prosecuted. 

In  his  geographical  memoir,  printed  by  order  of  the  Senate, 
Mr.  Fremont  proposes  to  continue  and  complete  his  explorations 
in  Oregon  and  California,  and  to  publish  the  results  under  the 
direction  of  Congress,  as  a  national  work,  and  without  copy- 
right. It  is  the  mode  in  which  the  results  of  his  previous  expe- 
ditions have  been  published,  and  with  great  advantage  to  the 
public,  as  all  will  acknowledge,  his  journals  and  maps  being 
reprinted,  and  multiplied  in  cheap  editions,  as  well  in  Europe  as 
in  this  country,  and  thus  all  his  discoveries,  and  all  the  informa- 
tion he  acquired,  passing  at  once  into  the  mass  of  general  know, 
ledge.  It  is  deemed  by  the  committee,  the  proper  mode  of  dis- 
seminating useful  information  obtained  .tt  the  expense  of  the 
government,  and  whijh  should  be  dittused  at  once  without  the 
impediment  of  co|)yright8,  and  the  author,  where  deserving  it, 
compensated  in  some  other  form  for  any  extraordinary  service 
which  he  has  rendered.  «  *  *  * 

The  committee,  therefore,  feeling  all  the  reasons  in  favor  of 
such  explorations,  to  be  greatly  increased  by  the  recent  acquisi- 
tion of  California,  and  the  exclusive  possession  of  Oregon,  and 
where  so  much  has  been  done  towards  exploring  Oregon  and 
California,  ascertaining  practicable  routes  for  a  railroad  or  other 
communications  between  the  Valley  of  the  Mississippi  and  the 
Pacific  Ocean,  and  for  publishing  the  results  as  a  national  work 
under  the  direction  of  Congress,  and  without  a  copyright ; 
thev  have  with  one  accord  directed  their  chairman  to  move  the 
necessary  appropriation,  to  wit,  $30,000,  being  the  amount  usually 
appropriated  for  topographical  surveys  beyond  th«  Mississippi. 


i 


472 


LIFE    AND   SERVICES   OF   JOHN   0.    FREMONT. 


EXTRACT   OF   A    LETTER   FROM    THE    HON.    EDWARD   EVERETT. 

Cambridob,  Mass.,  March  20,  1846. 

"Dkau  Sir:  A  short  time  sin(;e,  I  sent  two  copies  of  the 
Conirressional  documents,  conttiininLf  Ciij)tain  Fivmont's  two 
rei)<)rts,  to  London,  one  to  Doctor  Holland  (who  spoke  of  you 
with  great  kindness  on  his  return  to  Hoston,)  and  one  to  Sir  \i.  I. 
Murchison,  late  president  both  of  the  GeoIof»;ical  and  Geogra- 
phical societies,  and  one  of  the  most  eminent  British  geologists. 
In  a  letter  received  from  the  last  named  gentleman,  by  the 
steamer  of  the  4th  March,  he  speaks  in  the  following  terms  of 
Captain  Fremont's  report : 

'"Tlie  work  of  Captain  Fremont  so  much  interested  me,  (it  is 
really  the  most  romantic,  as  well  as  instrtictive  survey,)  that  I 
wrote  out  a  little  analysis  of  it,  for  the  president  of  our  geologi- 
cal society,  Mr.  Horner,*  and  if  he  has  not  space  enough  to  do 
it  justice  in  his  anniversary  discourse,  I  will  take  care  that  the 
excellent  services  of  your  countryman,  are  duly  noticed  in  the 
speech  of  Lord  Colchester,  my  successor  as  Pi'esident  of  the 
Royal  Geographical  Society.  Knowing  your  connection  with 
Captain  Fretnont,  I  have  th(»'.ight  it  might  be  some  satisfaction 
to  you  to  learn  that  his  labors  were  appreciated  by  good  jutlges 
abroad.  I  should  long  since  have  made  him  my  personal 
acknowledgments  for  the  gratification  and  instruction  which  I 
have  derived  from  his  reports,  had  I  had  the  honor  of  his 
acquaintance.  I  should  have  sent  more  copies  to  England  could 
I  have  procured  them.' " 

[B.] 

EXTRACT   FROM   A    LETTER   FROM   THE   UNITED    STATES 
CONSUL,    WARREN,    TRIESTE. 


f  •  ■      '11' 


!tl|||; 


"  I  travelled,  not  as  I  first  intended,  over  Hamburgh  and  Berlin 
to  this  city,  but  took  a  passage  to  Leghorn,  from  which  place  I 

♦Mr.  Lyell'«  fatber-ln-law. 


ONT. 

RD   EVERETT. 

March  20,  1846. 
co[)ies  of  the 
'reiiiont's  two 
spoke  of  you 
3116  to  Sir  R.  I. 
and  Geoo;ra- 
ish  geologists. 
enian,  by  the 
vvinu  terms  of 

jsted  me,  (it  is 

LU'vey,)   tliat  I 

)f  our  geologi- 

enouifh  to  do 

care  that  the 

noticed  in  the 

esideut  of  the 

►nnection   with 

ne  satisfaction 

y  good  judges 

my   personal 

ction  which   I 

honor  of  his 

ingland  could 


tD    STATES 


l^gh  and  Berlin 
fhich  place  I 


PACIFIC    RAILROAD. 


4T3 


i 


proceeded  to  Trieste.  I  availed  myself  of  a  favorable  oppor- 
tunity to  forward  the  books  whicli  you  intrusted  to  my  care,  to 
Baron  von  Humboldt.  During  the  month  I  obtained  a  short 
leave  of  abseinte  fiorn  my  post,  and  proceeded  to  the  north  of 
Germany.  Whilst  at  Berlin,  I  had  an  interview  with  Baron  von 
Humboldt.  lie  bade  me  thank  you  for  the  present  with  which 
you  had  so  favored  him.  He  had  already  in  his  possession  'Fre- 
mont's reports,'  but  not  Nicollet's  work.  He  put  some  (pies- 
tions  to  me  in  relation  to  yourself,  your  political  career,  your 
age,  and  so  forth,  to  whicii  1  gave  full  replies.  He  then  in()uired 
in  relation  to  Col.  Fremont,  whose  work  he  said  had  been  read 
by  him  with  great  interest  as  the  work  of  a  man  of  talent, 
courage,  industry,  and  enterprise.  These  were  the  words  literally 
used  bv  Mr.  von  Humboldt. 

"  Extracts  from  the  reports  which  have  made  their  appearance 
in  many  of  the  German  papers,  and  the  scientific  world  (through 
the  republication  of  the  work  by  Wiley  &  Putnam  in  London), 
has  become  generally  acquainted  with  it;  and  I  can  say  truly, 
from  the  conversation  I  have  had  on  the  subject  with  many  men 
entitled  to  a  judgment,  it  is  appreciated  as  a  very  able  work." 

[C] 

PACIFIC     RAILROAD. 

LETTER     FROM    COLONEL     FREMONT     GIVIXO      THE     PEStTLTS     OF    mS 

FIFTH   EXPEDITION   IN    1854: 5,  WITH   SPECIAL   REFERENCE   TO    TIIK 

MOST   PRACTICABLE   ROUTE   FOR   A   RAILWAY   TO   THE    PAOIFIO. 

To  the  Editors  of  the  National  Intelligencer : 

Gentlemen:  While  the  proceedings  in  Congress  are  occu- 
pying ])ublic  attention,  more  particularly  with  the  subject  of  a 
Pjiciiic  Railway,  I  doisire  to  otter  to  your  paper,  for  publicati(m, 
some  general  results  of  a  recent  winter  expedition  across  the  Rocky 
Moiititains,  contining  myself  to  mere  results,  in  anticipation  of  a 
fuller  report,  with  maps  and  illustrations,  which  will  necessarily 
require  some  months  to  prepare. 

The  country  examined  was  for  about  three-fourths  of  the  dis- 


I'    '!■ 


,1 


M    '■  i 


IW. 


474 


LIFE   AND   8KBVICE8   OF  JOHN  C.    FREMONT. 


tance — from  the  Missouri  frontier,  at  the  mouth  of  the  Kan«tn« 
river,  to  tlie  valley  of  Piirawiii),  at  tlie  foot  o*'  the  Wahsatch  Moun- 
tains, within  the  rim  of  the  Great  Basin,  at  its  soiitlieastern  Ivntl — 
alon^  and  hetween  the  8Utli  and  'I'.Mli  parallels  of  latitude;  and  the 
whole  line  jlivides  it>elf  luiturally  into  three  sections,  vhich  may 
be  conveniently  followeii  in  description. 

T\\ii  Jimt  or  eastern  section  consi>ts  of  the  ixwat  prairie  slope, 
epreudin;jf  from  the  base  of  the  Sierra  JJ/aiica  to  the  Mis>ouri  frontier, 
ab()Ut  7(tO  miles;  the  second  o"  middle  se(!tion,  comprehends  the 
various  Jiocky  Mountain  raiifjes  and  interlyin<^  valleys,  between  the 
termination  of  the  Great  Plaifis  at  the  foot  of  the  Sierra  Ji/anca, 
and  the  CJreat  Basin  of  the  Parawan  Valley  aiul  Wahsatch  Moun- 
tains, where  the  lirst  Mormon  settlement  is  found,  about  4o()  miles; 
the  third  or  western  section  comprehends  the  mountainous  plateau 
lyinj?  between  the  Wahsatch  Mountains  and  the  Sierra  Nevada^  a 
distance  of  about  40U  miles. 

The  country  examined  was  upon  a  very  direct  line,  the  travelled 
route  being  about  1,550  miles  over  an  air-line  distance  of  about 
1,30U  miles. 

The  First  Section. — Four  separate  expeditions  across  this  section, 
made  before  the  present  one,  and  which  earned  me  over  various 
lines  at  ditferent  seasons  of  the  year,  enable  me  to  speak  of  it  with 
the  contidence  t)f  intimat^j  knowledge.  It  is  a  iTlain  of  easy  incli- 
nation, 8wee|)ing  directly  up  to  the  foot  of  the  mountains  which 
donunate  it  as  highlands  do  the  ocean.  Its  character  is  open 
prairie,  over  whicii  summer  travelling  is  made  in  every  direction. 

For  a  railway  or  a  winter-travelling  road,  the  route  would  be,  in 
consideration  of  wood,  coal,  building-stone,  water,  and  fertile  land, 
about  two  hundred  miles  up  the  immediate  valley  of  Kansas 
(■.  Inch  ridght  be  made  one  rich  continuous  corntield),  ami  after- 
wards along  the  immediate  valley  of  the  Upper  Arkansas,  of  which 
about  two  hundred  nnles,  as  you  apj)roach  the  mountains,  is  conti- 
nuou>ly  Well  adapted  to  settlements  as  well  as  to  roads.  Numerous 
well  watered  and  fertile  valleys — broad  and  le  el — open  no  among 
the  mountains,  which  present  themselves  in  detached  blocks — out- 
liers— gradually  closing  in  around  the  heads  of  the  streams,  but 
leaving  open  api)rt)aches  to  the  central  ridges.  The  whole  of  tlie 
inrer-niountain  region  is  abuiulant  in  grasses,  wood,  coal,  and  fertile 
soil.  The  Pueblos  above  Bent's  Fort,  prov'  it  to  be  well  adajiTed 
to  the  grains  and  vegetables  common  to  the  latitude,  including 
Indian  corn,  which  ri()ens  well,  and  to  the  supi)ort  of  healthy 
htock,  which  increase  well  and  take  care  of  themselves  summer 
and  winter. 

The  climate  is  mild  and  the  winters  short,  the  autumn  usually 
having  its  full  length  of  bright  open  weather,  without  snow,  whi"h 
in  winter  falls  rarely  and  passes  otf  quickly.  In  this  belt  of  country 
lying  along  the  mountains,  the  snow  falls  more  early  and  much 


INT. 


PACIFIC   RAILROAD. 


475 


f  the  Kansas 
ilisatch  Monn- 
nstorn  \w\\i\ — 
tmle;  ami  the 
s,  wliicli  may 

prairit;  slope, 
isuiM'i  tVoiitior, 
iipivliL-iuls  tlio 
S  l»er\v»-eii  tlie 
'Sierra  JUducn, 
ilisiitc'li  Mimii- 
iiiit  4.")()  miles ; 
iiiiums  plateau 
ivra  Necada^  a 

?,  tlie  travelled 
atice  of  about 

iss  this  section, 
(  over  various 
)eak  of  it  with 
1  of  easy  iiicli- 
uiitaiiis  which 
acter  is   open 
■ry  direction, 
e  would  be,  in 
1(1  fertile  land, 
ey   of  Kansas 
Id),  and  after- 
nsas,  of  wh'cli 
tains,  is  conti- 
s.    Numerous 
pen  up  among 
blocks — out- 
streams,  bnt 
whole  of  the 
)al,  and  fertile 
well  adapted 
de,   including 
•t  of   healthy 
lelves  summer 

[tnrnn  usually 
(■■now,  whi"h 
lelt  of  country 
|ly  aud  much 


more  thinly  than  in  the  open  plains  to  the  eastward ;  the  storms 
C(»iijjtreKate  about  tlio  high  mountains  and  leave  the  vaUeys  free.  In 
the  l)egirming  of  December  wo  foimd  yet  no  snow  on  the  I/uer/nno 
Kiver,  and  were  informed  by  an  old  resident,  then  engaged  in  estab- 
lishing a  farm  at  tiie  mouth  of  this  stream,  that  snow  seldom  or 
never  falls  there,  and  that  cuttle  were  left  in  the  range  all  the  winter 
through. 

This  character  of  country  continued  to  the  foot  of  the  dividing 
crest,  and  to  this  point  oin*  journey  residted  in  showing  a  very 
easy  grade  for  a  road,  over  a  c<)untry  unobstructed  either  by  snow 
or  other  impediments,  ami  having  all  the  elements  necessary  to  the 
prosi'M'ity  of  an  agricultural  population,  in  fertility  of  soil,  abund- 
ance of  food  f(»r  stock,  wood  and  coal  for  fuel,  and  timber  for 
necessary  constructions. 

Our  examinations  around  the  southern  headwaters  of  the  Arkansas, 
liave  nuide  us  ac(pi!iinted  with  many  |)asses,  grouped  together  in  a 
small  space  of  country,  conducting  by  short  ami  practicable  valleys 
from  the  waters  of  the  Arkansas  just  described,  to  the  valleys  (»f  the 
Del  Norte  aiul  East  Colorado.  The  Sierni  JJlunca,  througfi  which 
these  passes  lie,  is  high  and  rugged,  presenting  a  very  broken  appear- 
ance, but  rises  abruptly  from  the  open  country  on  either  side,  luxr- 
rowed  at  the  points  through  which  the  passes  are  cut,  leaving  then\ 
only  six  or  eight  miles  in  length  from  valley  to  valley,  ami  entirely 
Muobstructed  by  outlying  ranges  or  broken  country.  To  the  best 
of  these  passes  the  ascent  is  along  the  open  valley  of  watercourses, 
uniform  and  very  gradual  in  as(;eiit.  Standing  immediately  at  tlie 
mouth  of  the  Sdud  Ulll.PdSS — one  of  the  most  practicable  in  the 
Sierra  Blanca^  and  above  those  usually  travelled — at  one  of  the 
remotest  headsprings  of  the  Huerfano  Kiver,  the  eye  of  the  travel- 
ler follows  down  without  obstruction  or  abrupt  descent  ahuig  the 
gradual  slope  of  the  valley  to  the  great  ])iains  which  reach  the 
Mi>sourl.  The  straight  river  and  the  open  valley  form,  with  the 
l>lains  beyon<l,  one  great  slope,  without  a  hill  to  break  the  line  of 
sight  or  obstruct  the  course  of  the  road.  On  either  side  of  this 
line  hills  slope  easily  to  the  river,  with  lines  of  timber  and  yellow 
autunmal  grass,  and  the  water,  which  flows  smoothly  betwe^^n,  is  not 
interrupted  by  a  fall  in  its  course  to  the  ocean.  The  surrounding 
country  is  wooded  with  pines  and  covered  with  luxuriant  grasses, 
up  to  the  very  crags  of  the  central  summits.  On  the  8th  of 
December  we  found  this  whole  country  free  from  snow  and 
Daguerre  views  taken  at  this  time  show  the  grass  entirely  uncov- 
ered in  the  passes. 

Along  all  this  line  the  elevation  was  carefully  determined  by- 
frequent  barometrical  observations,  and  its  character  exhibited  by  a 
series  of  daguerreotype  views,  omprehending  the  face  of  the 
country  almost  continuously,  or  at  least  suflOiciently  so,  to  give  a 
thoroughly  correct  impression  of  the  whole. 


(!:.! 

r  1  ' 

j    t 


'    li 


u    > 


*'■■■:  r-i 


470 


LIFE    AND   BERVI0K8   OF  JOHN   C.    FUKMONT. 


Two  tiinnel-like  pftsses  nterce  the  monntiiiiH  hero,  almost  In 
juxtaposition,  comurctiiif?  tlie  pliiiii  coiiiitry  on  eitiicr  sido  by  «liort 
piissni^'iis  livo  to  t'iixlit  miles  lonj^.  Tin)  mountiiiin  wliidli  tlioy  piT- 
forutc  constitntH  tlio  <»nly  ol»strnctioii,  iind  arc  tlie  only  lirnilv  in  ilio 
|il.'iii»5  or  viilli-y  line  of  roiid  t'roui  tlio  tVonticr  of  Missouri  to  tlm 
Biitiiinit  hills  of  the  Kocky  Moiinttiins,  u  distiincu  of  tilxxit  Hoi) 
mill's,  or  luoru  tliiin  half  way  to  tho  San  .Joa(iiiin  valli'y.  Enteriii;^ 
ono  of  those  passes  from  tho  eastern  |>lain,  a  distance  of  about  otio 
inilo  upon  a  waj^on  road,  already  travelled  by  wa>,'ons,  connnandn 
an  open  view  of  tho  broad  valley  of  iSun  Lain  and  tho  great  raiiLfO 
of  S((n  Juan  beyond  on  its  western  .side.  I  hero  connected  tho 
lino  of  the  present  expedition  with  ono  explored  in  1848-'4!)  from 
the  month  of  tho  Kansiis  tu  this  point,  and  tho  results  of  both  will 
bo  embodied  in  a  fidl  rep(»rt. 

At  this  place  the  line  entered  tlio  middle  section,  and  continued 
its  western  course  over  an  open  valley  ciMintry,  admirably  adapted 
for  settlement,  across  the  S<in  Lvis  valley,  and  up  tho  tiat  bottom 
lands  of  the  Sali-wat«li  to  the  heights  of  the  central  ridge  of  tho 
Kocky  Mountains.  Across  those  wooded  heights — wooded  and 
grass-covered  up  to  and  over  their  rounded  summits — to  the 
Coocha-to-po  pass,  tho  lino  followed  an  open  easy  wagon-way, 
such  as  is  usual  tu  a  rolling  country.  On  the  high  summit 
lands  were  forests  of  coniferous  trees,  and  the  snow  in  tho  pass 
was  four  inches  deep.  This  was  on  tho  14th  of  !)ecember.  A 
day  earlier  our  horses'  feet  would  not  have  touched  srow  in  the 
crossing.  Up  to  this  i)oint  we  had  enjoyed  clear  and  dry  ])leasant 
weather.  Our  journey  had  been  all  along  on  dry  ground;  and 
travelling  slowly  along  waiting  for  the  winter,  there  had  been  abun- 
dant leisure  for  be(!oming  ac<|uainted  with  the  country.  The  open 
character  of  the  country,  joined  to  good  information,  indicated  tho 
existence  of  other  j>assos  about  the  head  of  the  Sah-watch.  This 
it  was  desirable  to  verify,  and  especially  to  examine  a  neighboring 
and  lower  pass  conne(;ting  more  directly  with  the  Arkansas  valley, 
known  as  tho  Poow-che. 

But  the  winter  had  now  set  in  over  all  the  mountain  regions, 
and  the  country  was  so  constantly  enveloped  and  hidden  in  clouds 
which  rested  upon  it,  and  the  air  so  darkened  by  falling  snow,  that 
exploring  became  dittieult  and  dangerous,  precisely  where  we  felt 
most  interested  in  making  a  thorough  examination.  Wo  were  mov- 
ing in  fogs  and  clouds,  through  a  region  wholly  unknown  to  us,  and 
without  guides,  and  wore  tlierolore  obliged  to  content  ourselves 
witli  the  examination  of  a  single  line,  and  the  ascertainment  of  the 
winter  condition  of  t!ie  country  over  which  it  passed,  which  was 
in  fact  tho  main  object  of  our  expedition. 

Our  progress  in  this  mountain  'Us  region  was  necessarily  slow, 
and  during  ten  days  which  it  occupied  us  to  pass  through  about  one 
hundred  miles  of  the  mountainous  country  bordering  the  eastern 


lONT. 

lerc,  nlmost  in 

?r  side  by  short 
k'liic.li  they  pt-r- 
ily  liiTiik  it)  I  ho 
Mi>s<tiii'i  t<>  th«i 

)    ot"    ultollt    H.")!) 

ilU'y.  Knteriii;^ 
:o  of  iihoiit  Olio 
;ons,  comiiiaiids 
the  f^rt'iit  rftii;ro 
J  coimccted  tlio 
I  1848-'4i)  from 
iltrt  of  both  will 

,  and  contiiuie'l 
mirnhly  iidiiptod 
tlio  tljit  bottom 
nd  ritl^'o  of  the 
s — wooded  niul 
uimnits — to  the 
isy  Avagoii-way, 
le  ldu;h  summit 
low  in  tlio  pass 
j  Decemboi*.  A 
3d  srow  in  the 
iiid  dry  pleasant 
tjround;  and 
ad  been  abun- 
itry.  Tiie  open 
1,  indicated  tiio 
i-wat(!h.  This 
a  neif^hboring 
Vrkansas  valley, 

)nntain  regions, 
ilden  in  clouds 
ing  snow,  that 
wiiere  we  felt 
We  were  niov- 
lown  to  us,  and 
ntont  ourselves 
ainment  of  the 
id,  which  was 

?cessarily  slow, 
ough  about  one 
ng  the  eastern 


PACIFIC   RAILROAD. 


477 


side  of  the  Upper  Colorado  valley,  the  greatoMt  depth  of  snow  wan, 
among  the  pines  and  a>^pt'us,  on  thi  ridges  aliout  two  and  a  h.ilf 
feet,  and  in  the  valU'vs  ai)oiit  six  iix-lies.  'i'he  atmo^jphere  ir.  tuo 
cold  and  dry  for  much  siiuw,  and  tiie  valleys,  protvi-led  by  tho 
mountains,  are  comparatively  free  fnim  it,  and  warm.  We  hero 
found  villages  of  Utah  Indians  in  tiieir  wintering  ground,  in  little 
valleys  along  the  foot  of  the  liigliest  nu)untains  and  bordering  the 
more  open  country  of  the  Colorado  valley.  Snow  wa^  hero 
(December  25)  only  a  few  inches  deep — the  grass  generally  appear- 
ing above  it,  and  there  being  none  under  trees  anil  on  southern  hill- 
sides. 

The  Inu'ses  of  the  Utnlm  were  living  on  the  range,  and  notwith- 
standing that  they  were  used  in  hunting,  were  in  excellent  condition. 
One  which  we  had  occasion  to  kill  for  food  hatl  on  it  altout  two 
inelies  of  fat,  being  in  as  good  order  as  any  butlalo  we  had  killed 
in  November  tm  the  eastern  i)lains.  Over  this  valley  country — 
about  150  miles  across — the  Indians  informe<l  us  thai  snow  falls 
only  a  few  inches  in  depth,  such  as  wo  saw  it  at  tin-  time. 

The  immediate  vidley  of  the  Upper  Ct»lorada  for  about  U)(»  miles 
in  breath,  and  from  the  7th  to  the  22d  of  Janmiry,  wa^^  entiiely 
bare  of  sn(»w,  and  the  weather  resembled  that  of  autumn  in  his 
country.  The  line  here  entered  the  body  of  mountains  known  as 
the  Wa-aatch  and  Chu-ter-ria  ranges,  which  are  practicalde  at  seve- 
ral places  in  this  part  of  their  course;  but  the  falling  snow  and 
destitute  c(uulition  of  my  party  again  interfered  to  impede  examin- 
ations. They  lie  between  the  C'olorado  valley  and  the  Croat  Basin, 
and  at  their  western  base  are  established  tiie  Mormon  settlements  of 
Parawan  and  Cedar  City.  They  are  what  are  called  fertile  moun- 
tains, abundant  in  water,  wood,  and  grass,  and  fertile  valleys,  otler- 
ing  inducements  to  settlement  and  facilities  for  making  a  road. 
These  mountains  are  a  great  store-house  of  materials — timber, 
iron,  coal — which  would  be  of  indispensable  use  in  the  construc- 
tion and  maintemmce  of  the  road,  and  are  solid  foundations  to 
build  up  the  future  prosperity  of  the  rai)idly-iucroasing  Utah 
State. 

Salt  is  abundant  on  the  eastern  border  mountains,  as  the  Sierra 
de  iSaZ,  being  named  from  it.  In  the  ranges  lying  behind  the  Mor- 
mon settlements,  among  the  mountains  through  which  the  line 
passes,  are  accumulated  a  great  wealth  of  iron  and  coal,  and  exten- 
sive forests  of  heavv  timbe'*.  These  forests  are  the  largest  I  am 
acquainted  with  in  the  Ki>ck_y  Mountains,  being  in  some  places 
twenty  miles  in  depth  of  continuous  forest,  the  general  growth 
lofty  and  large,  frequently  over  three  feet  in  diameter,  and  some- 
times reaching  five  feet,  the  red  spruce  and  yellow  pine  predomi- 
nating. At  the  actual  southern  extremity  of  the  Mormon  settle- 
ments, consisting  of  the  two  enclosed  towns  of  Parawan  and  Cedar 
City,  near  to  which  onr  line  passed,  a  coal  mine  has  been  opeuod 


478 


LIFE   AND   SERVICES   OF  JOHN   C.    FREMONT. 


r:i '  1 


for  about  eighty  yards,  and  iron  works  already  established.  Iron 
here  occurs  in  extraordinary  masses,  in  some  parts,  accumuhited  into 
nuMintaius,  which  come  out  in  crests  of  soHd  iron  thirty  feet  tiiiclc 
and  a  hundred  yards  long. 

In  passing  tiirough  this  bed  of  mountains  about  fourteen  days 
had  been  occupied,  from  January  2-l:th  to  February  7th,  the  deepest 
snow  we  here  encountered  being  about  up  to  the  sadille-skirts,  or 
four  feet;  this  occurring  only  in  occasioiuil  drifts  in  the  passes  012 
northern  exposures,  and  in  tlie  small  mountain  liats  hemmed  in  by 
Avoods  and  hills.  In  the  valley  it  was  sometimes  a  few  inciies  deep, 
and  as  often  luuie  at  all.  On  our  arrival  at  tlie  Mormon  settlements, 
February  8th,  we  found  it  a  few  inches  deep,  and  were  tliere 
informed  that  the  winter  hnd  been  unusiiallv  long-continued  and 
severe,  the  thermometer  having  been  as  low  as  17-^  below  zero,  and 
nitu'e  snow  having  fallen  than  in  all  the  previous  winters  together 
since  the  establishment  of  this  colony. 

At  this  season  their  farmers  had  usually  been  occupied  with  their 
ploughs,  preparing  the  laiul  for  grain. 

At  this  point  the  line  of  exploration  entered  the  tJurd  or  western 
section,  comprehending  the  wumwliiWMm^  jdateau,  between  the  Wah- 
satch  Mountains  and  the  Sierra  Nevada  of  California.     Two  routes 
have  suggested  themselves  to    me  f()r  examination,   one  directly 
across  the  plateau^  between  the  37th  aiul  38th  |)arallel>i;  the  other 
keeping  to  the  soutii  of  the  mountains  and  following  tor  about  2U0 
miles   down  a  valley  of  the  Rio  Vlrgea — Virgin    Kiver — thence 
direct  to  the  Tejon  Pass,  at  the  lu.'ad  of  the  San  Joaipiin  vallev 
Tliis   route  down  the  Virgin  Kiver  luid  been  examined  the  year 
before  with  a  view  to  settlement  this  summer  by  a  Mormon  expl«»r 
ing  party  under  the  command  of  Major  Steele  of  Parawan,  wh 
(and  others  of  the  partv)  informed  me  that  they  found  fertile  va' 
leys  inhabited  by  Indians  who  cultivated  corn  and  meh)ns,  and  tl 
rich  ground  in  many  |)laces  matted  over  with  grai»e   vines.     Tl 
Tejon  Passes  are  two,  one  of  them  (tVom  the  abundance  of  vines  at 
its  lower  end)  called  Caxon  de  las  Ucas.     They  were  of  long  u^e 
and  were  examined  by  me  and  their  practicability  ascertained  in  m; 
exi)edition  of  1848-49,  and  in  1851  I  again  pa>sed  through  tliei 
both,   bringing   three   thousand   head   of    cattle   tiirough   one   o 
them. 

Knowing  the  practicability  of  these  passes,  and  confiding  in  th 
report  of  Major  Steele  as  to  the  intermediate  country,  1  deterininet 
to  take  the  other  (between  the  37th  and  38th  parallel-'),  it  recoin 
mending  itself  to  me  as  being  more  direct  towards  San  Francisco 
and  preferable  on  that  account  for  a  road,  if  suitable  ground  coul 
be  found;  and  also  as  being  unknown.  The  Moriions  intbiuied  m 
that  various  attempts  had  been  made  to  explore  it,  and  all  faile 
for  want  of  water.  Although  biased  in  favor  of  the  Virgin  Kiv 
route,  1  determined  to  examine  this  one  in  the  interest  of  geogr: 


le 
le 


PACIFIC    RAILROAD. 


479 


KMONT. 

istablished.  Iron 
ftccuiuuhited  uito 
1  thirty  feet  thick 

)vU  fourteen  days 
•V  7th,  the  deepest 
e  saddle-^kh-ts,  or 
.  iu  the  l)as^ieri  on 
ats  heiiimed  in  by 
a  tew  iiiciies  deep, 
orinon  riettlenieiUrf, 
and  were  thei-e 
ong-contiiuied  and 
70 "below  zero,  and 
IS  winters  togetlier 

occupied  with  their 

,he  third  or  western 
ji  between  llieNVah- 
fornia.     Two  routes 
uition,  one  directly 
parallels-,  tlie  other 
,,\ving  for  about,  2U0 
,^Mu    Kiver-thence 
tian  Joacphn  valley, 
examined  the  year 
uv  a  Mormon  exi)lor- 
,le  of  Farawan,  who 
,ey  found  fertile  val- 
iul  melons,  and  the 

h  grape  vines,  ine 
Abundance  of  vnies  at 
Uy  were  of  long  u^e, 
Ut'y  ascertained  ui  my 
Lised  throtigh  the.n 
ttle  tlirough   one  ot 

I  and  confiding  in  the 
Country,  I  deternnned 
parallels),  n  recom- 
Iwirds  San  Francisco, 
suitable  ground  could 
lor.uons  info.nied  me, 
uhre  it,  and  all  tailed 
Tot  the  Virgin  Kiver 
the  iatereit  of  geogra- 


phy, and  accordingly  set  out  i'jr  this  purpose  from  the  settlement 
ahont  tlie  2uth  of  Feltrnary,  travelling  directly  westward  from 
Cedar  City  (eighteen  miles  west  of  Par.'iwaii).  We  found  tiie  coimiry 
a  liigii  tahle  land,  brisiling  with  nioUMtains,  ot'ten  in  short  isolated 
blocks,  and  sometimes  accumulated  into  considerable  ranges,  with 
numerous  open  and  low  passes. 

We  were  thus  always  in  a  valley  and  always  surrounded  by  moun- 
tains more  or  less  closely,  which  apparently  altered  in  sha[)e  and 
po>ilion  as  we  advanced.  The  valleys  are  <lry  and  naked,  without 
water  or  wood;  but  the  mountains  are  generally  covered  with 
grass  and  well  wooded  with  pines;  springs  are  very  rare,  and  occa- 
sionally small  streams  are  at  remote  distances.  Not  a  human  being 
was  encountered  between  the  Santa  Clara  road,  near  the  Mormon 
Settlements  and  the  Sierra  N^ecuda,  over  a  distance  of  more  than 
3UU  mile-<.  The  solitary  character  of  this  uninhabited  region,  the 
naked  valleys  without  watercourses,  among  mountains  witii  fertile 
soil  and  grass  and  woods  abundant,  give  it  the  appearaiKie  of  an 
untinished  country. 

Commencing  on  the  38th,  we  struck  the  Sierra  Nevada  on  or 
about  the  37th  parallel  about  the  15th  March. 

On  our  route  across  we  had  for  the  greater  i)art  of  the  'ime  plea- 
sant and  r  Jier  warm  weather;  the  valley  grounds  and  low  ridires 
uncovered,  but  snow  over  the  upper  parts  of  the  higher  moiuitains. 
Between  the  20th  of  February  and  17th  of  March  we  hail  several 
snow-storms,  sometimes  accompanied  witli  hail  and  heavy  thunder; 
but  the  snow  remained  on  the  valley  groun<l  only  a  few  hours  after 
the  storm  was  over.  It  forms  not  the  least  impediment  at  any  time 
of  the  winter.  I  was  prepared  to  find  the  Sierra  here  broad, 
rugged,  and  blocked  up  with  snow,  and  was  not  (lisapi)oiiited  in  my 
expectation.  The  tirst  range  we  attempted  to  cros.-,  carried  us  t(»ari 
elevation  of  8,000  or  9,000  feet  and  into  in^.passable  suow,  wliich 
was  further  increased  on  the  lOfh  by  a  considerable  fall. 

There  was  no  object  in  forcing  a  passage,  anil  I  accordingly  turned 
at  once  some  sixty  or  eighty  miles  to  the  southwai'd,  making  a  wide 
sweep  to  strike  the  Point  of  the  California  Mountain  where  the 
Sierra  Neva<la  suddenly  breaks  oft'  and  declines  into  a  lower  coun- 
try. Inform:ition  obtained  years  before  from  the  Indians  led  me  to 
believe,  that  the  low  mountains  were  broken  into  many  passes,  and 
at  all  events  I  had  the  certainty  of  an  easy  passage  through  either 
of  Walker's  passes. 

When  the  Point  was  readied  I  found  the  Indian  information  fully 
veritied;  the  mountain  suddeidy  terminated  and  hntke  down  into 
lower  grounds  barely  above  the  level  of  the  country,  and  making 
numerous  openings  into  the  valley  of  the  San  Joaquin.  I  entered 
into  the  fir>t  which  offered  (taking  no  time  to  search,  as  we  were 
entirely  out  of  provisions  and  living  upon  horses),  which  led  us 
by  an  open  and  almost  level  hollow  thirteen  miles  long  to   an 


430 


LIFE   AND   SERVICES   OP  JOHN   0.    FJIEMONT. 


m   •{ 


\i  ) 


!  ';?'  ] 


ii 


■!  ^'if  I 


Upland  not  steep  enough  to  be  called  a  liill,  over  into  the  valley  of 
a  small  affluent  to  Kern  River;  the  hollow  and  tlie  valley  niukiiiff 
together  a  way  where  a  wagon  would  not  tind  any  obstruction  for 
forty  miles. 

The  country  around  the  passes  in  which  the  Sierra  Nevada  here 
terminates,  declines  considerably  below  its  more  northern  eleva- 
tions. There  "was  no  snow  to  be  seen  at  all  on  its  eastern  face,  and 
none  in  the  pass;  but  we  were  in  the  midst  of  opening  spring, 
flowers  blooming  in  fiells  on  both  sides  of  the  Sierra. 

Between  the  point  of  the  mountains  and  the  head  of  the  valley 
at  the  Tejon  the  passes  generally  are  free  from  snow  tlirougliout 
the  year,  and  tlie  descent  from  them  to  the  ocean  is  distrihuted 
over  a  long  slope  of  more  tlian  200  miles.  The  low  dry  country 
and  the  long  slope,  in  contradistinction  to  the  high  country  and 
short  sudden  descent  and  heavy  snows  of  the  passes  behind  the  bay 
of  San  Francisco,  are  among  the  considerations  which  suggest  them- 
selves in  tavor  of  the  route  by  the  head  of  the  San  Joaquin. 

The  above  results  embody  general  impressions  made  upon  my 
mind  during  this  journey,  it  is  clearly  establisiied,  that  the  winter 
conditi(»n  of  the  country  constitutes  no  impediment,  and  from  vviiat 
has  been  said,  the  entire  practicability  of  the  line  will  be  as  clearly 
inferred.  A  fuller  account  hereafter  will  comprehend  detailed 
descriptions  of  the  country,  with  their  absolute  and  relative  eleva- 
tions, and  show  the  ground  upon  which  the  conclusions,  were 
based.  They  are  contributed  at  this  time  as  an  element  to  aid  the 
public  in  forming  an  opinion  on  the  subject  of  the  projected  rail- 
way, and  in  gratitication  of  my  great  desire  to  do  sometliing  for  its 
advancement.  It  seems  a  treason  against  mankind  and  the  spirit 
of  prt)gress  which  marks  the  age,  to  refuse  to  put  this  one  com- 
pleting link  to  our  national  prosperity  and  tlie  civilization  of  the 
world.  Europe  still  lies  between  Asia  and  America :  build  this  rail- 
road and  things  will  have  revolved  about:  America  will  lie  between 
Asia  and  Europe — the  golden  vein  v.diich  runs  through  the  history 
of  the  world  will  follow  the  iron  track  to  San  Fransisco,  and  tlie 
Asiatic  trade  will  finally  fall  into  its  last  and  permanent  road, 
when  the  new  and  the  modern  Ohryse  throw  open  their  gates  to 
the  thoroughfare  of  the  world. 

1  am,  gentlemen,  with  much  regard,  respectfully  yours, 

J.  C.  Fekmont. 
Washihotom,  Jun6  18. 


FINIS. 


MONT. 

to  the  valley  of 
e  valley  iimkiiig 
r  obstruction  tor 

ra  Nevada  here 
northern  eleva- 
jastern  face,  and 
opening  spring, 
•a. 

ad  of  the  vallev 
now  tiironjrliout 
n  is  distributed 
low  dry  country 
igh  country  and 
s  behind  the  bay 
:!h  suggest  theni- 
Joaquin, 
made  upon  my 
that  the  winter 
:,  and  from  wiiat 
v'ill  be  as  clearly 
rehend  detailed 
d  relative  eleva- 
itnclusions.  were 
3ment  to  aid  the 
!  projected  rail- 
omething  for  its 
id  and  the  spirit 
t  this  one  com- 
vilization  of  tho 
l:  build  this  rail- 
i  will  lie  between 
)ugh  the  history 
ansisco,  and  the 
lermanent  road, 
!u  their  gates  to 


yours, 
C.  Fekmont. 


